Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday 2 May 2023

Tapestries at past Coronations


I came upon an article from last August in The Art Newspaper about the practice in the sixteenth and seventeenth century of decorating the interior of Westminster Abbey at coronations with tapestries from the royal collection. 

This is shown most clearly in the superb engravings by Sandford of the ceremonies in 1685 for King James II and Queen Mary Beatrice, but also in the engraving of the coronation of King Charles II in 1661. The tradition of using decorative hangings can also be seen in the Islip Roll of the High Altar and Sacrarium at the funeral of Abbot John Islip in 1532. Winchester Cathedral nave has a series of iron hooks from which tapestries are said to have been suspended at the wedding of Queen Mary I and King Philip in 1554. 

How far back the custom originated is not clear but medieval miniatures and drawings often indicate the use of such drapery in royal courts, and the Bayeux Tapestry can be seen as an example of the type of thing which might have been used to decorate Westminster Abbey on a feastal occasion

The spectacular series of tapestries depicting the Apocalypse which survive from the late fourteenth century in the castle at Angers give an idea of the effect such textiles could create with their mix of vivid religious imagery and the display of princely wealth.

The tradition of using such decorations has survived in Catholic couthern Europe - notably Italy and Spain - but does not appear to have continued here after the Stuart period. At more recent coronations the decorated fronts of the temporary galleries in Westminster Abbey which were hung in red and gold or blue and gold did perhaps create a somewhat similar effect.

The article in The Art Newspaper identifies the tapestries as from a set telling the story of Abraham which was acquired late in the reign of King Henry VIII and which still survive in the Great Hall at Hampton Court.



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