Introducción al estudio documental del bordado en la ciudad de Plasencia durante el siglo XVI

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Abstract

This study offers the first systematic documentary introduction to sixteenth-century embroidery production in the city of Plasencia, emphasizing the abundance of archival records in contrast with the scarcity of surviving works, largely due to the perishable nature of the materials. It highlights the significance of the Guadalupe workshop and the monastery of Yuste as major regional centers, while stressing that Plasencia also developed its own network of embroidery masters, firmly embedded within the city’s artistic and commercial fabric. Workshops were mainly concentrated around the cathedral, nearby convents, and busy commercial streets such as la Rúa, revealing a clear connection between artisanal practice and urban economic life. Archival contracts document the production of liturgical ornaments—copes, chasubles, cross-bands, and banners—executed by artisans such as Juan de Briñegra, Andrés de Trejo, Juan de Zuñeda, Cristóbal de Ayala, and Juan de Molina, whose agreements provide details on pricing, deadlines, materials, and professional networks. The study’s most important contribution is the creation of an initial catalogue of embroidery masters, derived from extensive notarial and ecclesiastical sources. This documentary groundwork serves as a crucial foundation for future research, revealing the density, specialization, and continuity of embroidery activity in Early Modern Plasencia.