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Bayeux TapestryCavalry attack © Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY

Bayeux Tapestry

Romanesque Europe (English or Norman). c. 1066–1080 C.E. Embroidery on linen.

Curator Note

"Not a tapestry, but an embroidery. A massive 230-foot long cloth telling the story of the Norman Conquest of England (1066) from the victor’s perspective (William the Conqueror). It reads like a comic strip, depicting the Battle of Hastings, Halley’s Comet, and daily life, justifying William’s claim to the throne."

Form

  • Embroidery: wool yarn sewn onto linen cloth.
  • 70 meters long, 50 cm high.
  • Continuous narrative (frieze-like).
  • Latin inscriptions (tituli) explain the scenes.
  • Flat figures, limited colors (8 shades), linear style.

Function

  • Propaganda: to legitimize William's conquest.
  • To decorate the Bayeux Cathedral (or a palace).
  • To record historical events (Battle of Hastings).
  • To entertainment and instruct.
  • Secular art in a religious setting.

Content

  • Edward the Confessor's death.
  • Harold Godwinson's oath to William (and betrayal).
  • Building the fleet and crossing the Channel.
  • Battle of Hastings: cavalry charges, shield wall.
  • First depiction of dining, cooking, and Halley's Comet.

Context

  • Commissioned by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux (William's half-brother).
  • Made by skilled Anglo-Saxon needleworkers (women).
  • Provides invaluable details on 11th-century armor and life.
  • Shows the feudal relationship.
  • Miraculously survived wars and revolution.