The Bayeux Tapestry
Its history and origins
Origins of the Tapestry
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Bayeux Tapestry (faliszőnyeg)
French: Tapisserie de Bayeux
50 cm by 70 m (3 swimming pool) long
embroidered cloth
Represents events of the Norman invasion
(1066)
Latin annotations (képaláírás)
Modern history
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Rediscovered in the late 17thcentury
Published int the 1730s by Bernard de
Montfaucon
Bayeux wanted to use it as a cloth to cover an
ammunition (lőszer) wagon
1803-Napoleon transported it to Paris, he
wanted to use it as an inspiration for his planned
attack on England.
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Later the tapestry was returned to Bayeux
The tapestry spent much of World War II. in the
basement of the Louvre.
Now: it is in a special dark room, protected from
light and air with a special glass
Theories
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Traditional legend: the tapestry was created by
Queen Matilda, William the Conqueror’s wife
20thcentury analysis:the tapestry was made by
William the Conqueror’s half brother Bishop
Odo
It was used for propaganda by the Normans to
legitimize the conquest of the British Isles
Reasons
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3 of the Bishop followers appear on it
It was found in Bayeux Cathedral which was
built by Odo
It may have been made at 1070 at the same time
as the Cathedral
Assuming Odo created the tapestry:
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It was probably designed in England by AngloSaxon artists
Anglo-Saxon needlework
Latin:Opus Anglicanum (famous across Europe)
The Bayeux Catherdral
Bayeux Cathedral
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Cathédrale Notre Dame - de Bayeux
Norman-Romanesque cathedral
It was the home of the Tapestry
National monument of France
Once it was occupied by Romans
Built in 1077
Construction and technique
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It is not a true woven (szövés) tapestry
Embroidered in: wool yarn (gyapjú fonál) on a
tabbly-woven linen ground
Outline or stem stitch (öltés) for lettering
Outlines of figures
Couching or laid work for filling figures
Main colours
Terracotta or russet(sárgás-vöröses-barna)
 Blue-green
 Dull gold
 Olive green
 Blue
 Small amounts of dark blue or black
 Sage green
 Later:light green,yellow and orange.
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Detail showing
outlines in stem or
outline stitch and
fillings in laid work
The plot of the Tapestry
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Tells the story of the Norman conquest of
England
Anglo-Saxons:Harold Godwinson(mustaches)
Normans:William the Conqueror(shave-headed)
Main character:William
Did you know?
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It includes 623 people, 202 horses, 41 ships and
55 dogs .
There are more than 500 mythical creatures
along the borders.
There are more than 2000 words