Sunday, 16 May 2010

Hampton Court Tapestries 16 May

Findings from today's brisk research trip to establish which Tudor tapestries are currently on the walls at Hampton Court. I observed the following:

Great Hall
6x Abraham Cycle (1540s per Book 2, Ch.3) - Brussels stamp observable on only 2 though
NB/ a 7th Abraham tapestry is separately on show in the first room of the Mary apartments, as part of the light-show display that attempts to digitally enhance its colours.

3x Greek mythology [possibly Jason and Medea? Not sure, scenes of: a debate between a King and Queen with large moored navy in background; King as supplicant to Queen in woods setting; contest of arms between two Gods at sea]
NB/ a 4th in apparently the same cycle is separately on show in the Great Waiting Chamber, this depicts the same King watching as the Queen appears to faint/die and is supported by her ladies.

Various Tudor/Royal/Beaufort Armorial Bearings (e.g. Royal Arms, Tudor Rose, Fleur-de-lis, Beaufort Gate)
All about 2/3 feet high; strips of various lengths: 6ft, 12 ft etc.

Great Watching Chamber
1x Triumph [of Fame/Fate? Not sure, frieze includes Scipio, Pompey etc. at front, Alexander in middle, Priam and Paris at back apparently sinking into the ground, and contemporary-looking figures such as courtiers, bishops and popes, being trampled underfoot!]
1x Hercules [possibly the death of Heracles, as he is standing within a pyre, in front of an altar] (note French captioning at top; also that this one has been cut almost in half on the left side)
2x Allegorical Courtly Scenes
3x Wolsey Armorial Bearings [a) Family arms, b) Canterbury (Blue background) and Archbishopric of York, c) Another diocese in the style of Canterbury (? - Yellow background) and Archbishopric of York]

Elsewhere
Tapestries continue in Mary II's apartments, including a Judas Tree, 2 Acts of the Apostles, and 7-piece Alexander set. All carry the Brussels stamp and makers marks.

However, all the information captions and boards list these as being 17th or early-18th C works. Interesting though, that huge money was still being sent abroad once the Mortlake factory (1619-1703) was well established. Having seen tapestries of comparable size and quality in Urbino last week that were made there (and presumably purchased by the discerning Delle Rovere Dukes), it's not as if Mortlake was incapable of producing suitably grand tapestries for William and Mary. Perhaps the answer lies in these cycles all being diplomatic gifts from the Prince of Orange's Netherlandish peers.

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