First, let’s start with a clarification: Strictly speaking, it’s not actually a tapestry, since tapestries are woven, whereas this artwork is an embroidery on linen. Nevertheless, it is commonly referred to as such.ย
This pictorial narrative which is approximately 70 meters (230 feet) long, depicts the events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, culminating in the Battle of Hastings and William the Conqueror’s victory over Harold II.
The Norman Conquest radically changed England: politics, laws and culture all came under the influence of Norman rule. The Bayeux Tapestry bears witness to this event; at the same time, it is an outstanding example of English craftsmanship from the Middle Ages and is seen by many Britons as one of the most important symbols of British identity, alongside the works of Shakespeare or Stonehenge.
The tapestry is thought to have been commissioned by the Bishop of Bayeux, William’s half-brother, who was present at the battle, from embroiderers in southern England for the opening of his cathedral in 1070. Anglo-Saxon embroiderers were famous throughout Europe at the time for their skills. The work then made its way to France, where it remained for almost a thousand years โ until now.
Why is the Bayeux Tapestry so important?
The Bayeux Tapestry is considered one of the most important pictorial monuments of the High Middle Ages. Many researchers view it as an elaborately crafted piece of propaganda that showed and explained William the Conqueror’s victory to people at the time. Its scientifically disputed message is that Harold Godwinson, then Earl of Wessex, had sworn a sacred oath on relics to support William’s claim to the English throne. He broke this oath when he had himself crowned king. The war is therefore portrayed as his just punishment. The fact that Harold had probably not taken the oath of his own free will is irrelevant to this woven narrative.
The embroidery is part of the UNESCO Memory of the World Register and, because of its 58 pictorial scenes, is sometimes referred to as “the world’s oldest comic.”
Accompanied by Latin inscriptions, the pictorial narrative depicts the horrors of war โ including massacres, rolling heads and the death of a king.
But it is also a valuable historical document for researchers. The tapestry illustrates shipbuilding and military equipment in surprising detail, as well as everyday medieval life. Even Halley’s Comet is shown in it โ the comet was visible in the sky in 1066 and was interpreted by the Anglo-Saxons as a bad omen in the pictorial narrative.
Why did it take so long to get the tapestry on loan?
The tapestry is owned by the French state and had been placed on deposit with the City of Bayeux for display at the Musรฉe de la Tapisserie de Bayeux.
Britain had already tried to borrow the tapestry for the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, as well as for various historical occasions afterwards, but France had always refused. The artefact was considered too fragile and the journey too risky. Finally, President Emmanuel Macron gave the green light last year for an exhibition at the British Museum โ overriding the concerns of his experts.
Last September, the tapestry was taken down, packaged and initially placed in storage in a highly elaborate, six-hour procedure.
On July 9, it finally arrived in London in a secret transport operation, enclosed in a high-tech container that shielded it from all vibrations while maintaining a constant temperature and humidity level.
The British government has also insured the artwork for ยฃ800 million (around โฌ932 million or $1 billion).
Where can you get tickets?
The British Museum has divided ticket sales into three phases. The first, covering September to December, began on July 1. All tickets sold out quickly, with up to 80,000 people reportedly trying to secure a slot at the same time. Many had to wait up to nine hours.
For those who missed out, there will soon be another chance โ tickets for January to March will go on sale on October 21, and tickets for April to July in January.ย
The exhibition is being marketed as a “once-in-a-generation” event, and an extensive educational program is intended to involve schools across the country.
The British Museum is optimistic that the Bayeux Tapestry will help it set a new visitor record. The most popular exhibition in the museum’s history to dateย is the 1972 “The Treasures of Tutankhamun,” which attracted almost 1.7 million visitors.
No ticket? Here’s an alternative
If you’re now eager to see the tapestry but unsure if you’ll land a ticket, you can also head to the town of Reading, around two hours west of London. There, you can see a faithful replica of the tapestry, which is itself already 140 years old.ย
Even back then, there was a strong desire in England to have this artwork in the country. In 1885, 35 embroiderers set to work for around a year. Using colored photographs as a reference, they reproduced the tapestry on a one-to-one scale. However, they did change one detail: Some figures on the original border are naked and in suggestive poses. Apparently, this was considered too scandalous in Victorian England. One figure was retouched in the corresponding photograph โ and the embroiderers copied the alteration. As a result, the figure is depicted wearing underwear.
This article was translated from German.