P3 has note
| - Because of its subject matter, and quality, it seems likely that this tapestry was intended to hang in a great church or cathedral, although nothing is known of its provenance prior to an English private collection in the early 20th century. It may have been an altar frontal or dossal.
The church was an important sphere of patronage in tapestry production. Tapestry constituted a central part of the decoration of the greater establishments - many of the leading church figures were members of the aristocracy, and had been raised in circumstances where tapestry was seen as a manifestation of power. Sumptuous altar frontals and dossals, and larger sets depticting scenes from the Life of Christ, were sometimes donated by wealthy churchmen or benefactors, and were usually reserved for use on religious feast days.The cathedral church at Angers had tapestry sets of saints' lives hung in the choir on feast days; for the rest of the year the choir was hung with the painted cartoons from which the tapestries had been woven. (references from Thomas Campbell, <i>Tapestry in the Renaissance</i>, New York, 2002, pp.26-7). (en)
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