ABSTRACT
This article presents the results of my doctoral research into the ceilings of the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, and addresses these unique works of art from a hitherto unexplored perspective; the representation of dress and textiles as worn by the participants in the royal banquet depicted in the ceilings. It both catalogues the clothing and textiles, and then carefully examines the resulting typologies in order to identify the most appropriate comparators, taking into consideration the Islamic and Christian culture of the medieval Mediterranean and Middle East. The analysis of the clothing and textiles used in the paintings offers a route to a better understanding of the paintings themselves, as well as offering a resource for future interdisciplinary research into the material culture, workshop organization, and artistic circulation in the medieval Mediterranean.
