Henry VIII: The Unseen Tapestries


Gem of an exhibition at Franses of tapestries owned by Henry VIII on loan from a private collection.

It was stunning to see tapestries in such good condition and to realise how bright the colours were and the detail they showed. The level of scholarship was fascinating too with excellent descriptions explained where they hung, why they were commissioned and how they were recorded in the inventory of Henry’s possessions on his death.

The foyer has some small works including a tapestry of leaves inspired by the New World which had hung in Lady Elizabeth’s Guardrobe and a table carpet possibly made by Maria of Austria. You see table carpets in so many Tudor portraits but I’d never seen on in real life before.

The main room had three impressive large tapestries. My favourite was one of St Paul directing the burning of heretic books, part of a set commissioned from Pieter Coecke van Alest for Henry in 1538-9. The iconography was showing that there was a biblical precedent for seizing church property so justifying Henry’s actions in dissolving the monasteries and seizing their goods. I loved the depiction of the different types of book bindings.

Another made for the palace at Greenwich showed Romulus and Remus. During the Commonwealth it has been reserved for Cromwell’s personal use. It is also shown in the background of the coronation portrait of Charles II. The last one was a depiction of Henry himself made at about the time that he commissioned a Bible in English as it includes the quote in the dedication of the Bible “preach the gospel to all creatures.”

I hadn’t been to Franses before, a dealer in and consultant on textiles and only went in as advert for the show in the window caught my eye. I’ll certainly be looking out for future exhibitions.

Closed on 19 October 2018


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