Persian carpets (Oriental carpets) are carpets traditionally handwoven in the region centered on present-day Iran. Made from wool and silk thread, they are characterized by intricate designs, such as geometric and floral patterns, and vivid colors. These carpets, which originated in the East, including Anatolia (Asia Minor) and Persia, were introduced to Europe after the 14th century and became highly prized works of art. They are also depicted in Western religious paintings and portraits, symbolizing their luxury and exotic nature.
In Western paintings of the Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries), Persian carpets became an important element in decorating scenes. For example, the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck meticulously depicted Oriental carpets in his "Madonna and Child with van der Paele" (1436) and "Madonna of Lucca" (c. 1437). The carpets feature geometric patterns combining eight-pointed stars and diamonds, and the design is thought to have originated in Anatolia or Persia. Carpets were not simply used as backgrounds; they were placed at the feet of the Virgin Mary or saints to signify holiness and enhance the solemnity of the scene.
In the 16th century, Oriental carpets were depicted in portraits and other secular scenes, and their possession became a status symbol for the wealthy. The Italian painter Lorenzo Lotto also depicted gorgeous Oriental carpets in his works, one of which features a yellow arabesque pattern on a red background. This pattern was later named the "Lotto carpet" after the artist, indicating that carpets woven in Anatolia in the 16th century were in circulation in Europe at the time.
The vibrant East-West trade of the time (the Silk Road and Mediterranean trade) brought carpets and other Eastern products to Europe from the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia. These trade routes facilitated the spread of not only goods but also technologies and artistic styles, and served as a bridge for incorporating Eastern culture into Western art during the Renaissance. Thus, Persian carpets depicted in paintings became symbols of the intersection and fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, adding a unique touch to Western art.
