Royal Tapestry Factory

The Royal Tapestry Factory (Spanish: Real Fábrica de Tapices de Santa Bárbara) is a manufacturing plant located in Madrid, Spain, which was founded in 1720.

The factory was founded by Philip V after Spain lost its Belgian territories, and their tapestry workshops, as a result of the Peace of Utrecht. The project was one of a number of mercantilist initiatives undertaken in the eighteenth century in the Madrid area to supply luxury goods.

Like its French counterpart the Gobelins Manufactory, the Royal Tapestry Factory supplied the court with tapestries. While still in his 20's the painter Francisco Goya was commissioned to provide designs (known as cartoons) for tapestries to furnish El Escorial and El Pardo, two of the palaces in the Madrid region. Many of the Goya tapestry cartoons are displayed at the Museo del Prado.

The factory still produces traditional tapestries and carpets. In 1996 it became a foundation with the aim of providing a secure basis for the future.

Building

The factory has occupied its present site, not far from Atocha station, since the nineteenth century. The nineteenth century building is itself is of historical interest. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 2006.

See also

• List of Francisco Goya's tapestry cartoons
• Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja