The Macedonian Renaissance
The cultural flowering known as the Macedonian renaissance produced extraordinary works of art and literature. Even textiles felt its influence as the wealthy at Constantinople paid for lavish silks, many used as tapestries to mark major triumphs. This fragment of silk woven in compound twill (a diagonal weave composed of intricately interlaced silk threads) boasts a large dark green eagle with a yellow eye on a rose-purple background. Parts of two green rosettes are visible as well. (Museo Diocesano, Bressanone, Italy / De Agostini Picture Library / Gianni Dagli Orti / Bridgeman Images.)