The Invention of Glory: Afonso V and the Pastrana Tapestries

Early exploits in the Age of Discovery by King Afonso V of Portugal burst into life on 4 monumental (35 feet wide!) tapestries from Pastrana, Spain, which wowed audiences during their recent appearance at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The multitude of armor and weapons shown in the massive tableaux, unmatched in their detail and accuracy, provide a close-up view of 15th-century warfare and fill the viewer with the energy of the Renaissance.