The Bayeux tapestry : the life story of a masterpiece

The vivid scenes on the Bayeux Tapestry depict the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It is one of Europe's greatest treasures and its own story is full of drama and surprise. Who commissioned the tapestry? Was it Bishop Odo, William's ruthless half-brother? Or Harold's dynamic sister Edith, juggling for a place in the new court? Hicks shows us this world and the miracle of the tapestry's making: the stitches, dyes and strange details in the margins. For centuries it lay ignored in Bayeux cathedral until its 'discovery' in the eighteenth century. It became a symbol of power as well as art: townsfolk saved it during the French Revolution; Napoleon displayed it to promote his own conquest; the Nazis strove to make it their own; and its influence endures today. This marvellous book, packed with thrilling stories, shows how we remake history in every age and how a great work of art has a life of its own.

the Story Of The Bayeux Tapestry — From Its Origins And Creation To Its Long And Dramatic Afterlife.

the Vivid Scenes On The Bayeux Tapestry Depict The Events Leading Up To The Battle Of Hastings In 1066, When William The Conqueror Seized The English Throne. One Of Europe’s Greatest Treasures, The Tapestry Tells A Magnificent Tale — But As Carola Hicks Shows, Its Own Story Is Just As Dramatic.

from The Start There Are Mysteries And Controversies. Who Commissioned The Tapestry? Was It Bishop Odo, William’s Ruthless Half-brother? Or Was It King Harold’s Sister, Edith, Widow Of Edward The Confessor? Hicks Makes A Strong Case For Edith, Showing Us Her World And The Miracle Of The Tapestry’s Making — Talented Women Plying Their Needles, The Stitches And Dyes, The Strange Details In The Margins. The Tapestry Lay In Bayeux Cathedral, Dusty And Ignored Until Its “discovery” In The Eighteenth Century. During The French Revolution, The Townsfolk Narrowly Saved It From Destruction, While Napoleon Displayed It In Paris To Boost His Planned Conquest. In The Nineteenth-century, To The Horror Of Male Historians, Women Claimed It As “female” History. In The Twentieth Century, It Was Swept Up In The Struggle With The Nazis And Since Then, Its Iconic Images Have Inspired Films, Novels And Commercial Advertising.

this Marvelous Book, Packed With Thrilling Stories, Shows How We Remake History In Every Age, And How A Great Work Of Art Has A Life Of Its Own.


from The Trade Paperback Edition.

"The vivid scenes on the thin, 70-metre-long linen strip of the Bayeux Tapestry depict the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. A masterpiece of spin, it is one of Europe's greatest treasures and its own history is full of drama and surprise." "Who commissioned the tapestry? Was it Bishop Odo, William's ruthless half-brother? Or was it Harold's dynamic sister Edith, juggling for a place in the new court? Carola Hicks shows us this world and the miracle of the tapestry's making: the stitches and dyes, the strange details in the margins. For centuries it lay ignored in Bayeux cathedral until its 'discovery' in the eighteenth century. It became a symbol of power as well as art: townsfolk saved it during the French Revolution; Napoleon displayed it to promote his own conquest; the Nazis strove to make it their own. Its immediately recognisable images have inspired films, novels, cartoons and adverts - and even today, it acts as shorthand for Britain's long rivalry with France."--Jacket One of Europes greatest artistic treasures, the Bayeux Tapestry depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. For all its fame, its origins and story are complex and somewhat cloudy. Though many assume it was commissioned by Bishop OdoWilliams ruthless half-brotherit may also have been financed by Harolds dynamic sister Edith, who was juggling for a place in the new court. In this intriguing study, medieval art historian Carola Hicks investigates the miracle of the tapestrys makingincluding the unique stitches, dyes, and strange details in the marginsas well as its complicated past. For centuries it lay ignored in Bayeux cathedral until its discovery in the 18th century. It quickly became a symbol of townsfolk saved it during the French Revolution, Napoleon displayed it to promote his own conquest, and the Nazis strove to make it their own. Packed with thrilling stories, this history shows how every great work of art has a life of its own.