The Tudors Exhibitions Virtual tour

10/11/2026

The Met Cloisters

10/10/2026

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

A King's Carpet:
Louis XIV and the Savonnerie
In 1668 Louis XIV (1638-1715) tasked the Paris-based Savonnerie manufactory with producing the largest carpet ever woven. Made up of ninety-two individual pieces, the commission was intended to cover the full span of the Grande Galerie of the Louvre, the 480-yard hall down which ambassadors walked to reach the king's throne room. The iconography placed Louis XIV, the Sun King, at the center of the universe. With it, the monarch sought to ensure that every visiting dignitary understood they were in the presence of the world's most powerful sovereign.
The king's first minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, masterminded the commission, while his principal painter, Charles Le Brun, oversaw its design. The project
Louis XIV's government lavished huge sums on the carpets production, yet the individual Baroque masterpieces were never rolled out together.
By the time of their delivery, the king had turned his attention from the Louvre to Versailles.

10/06/2026

Tudors on tour with Tracy Borman

The stage is set for two sell out shows at Warwick Arts Centre 👑🪓 Norwell Lapley Productions

10/06/2026

Today is the birthday of Bond. James Bond.
5 Oct 1962 Dr. No debuted in theaters.
Who is your favorite?

10/03/2026

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

10/02/2026

The Met Cloisters
Medieval Dyes

10/02/2026

The Met Cloisters
crafts

10/02/2026

Another view on medieval lions - The Met Cloisters

09/25/2026

𝕸𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 𝖔𝖓 𝕭𝖆𝖞𝖊𝖚𝖝 𝖙𝖆𝖕𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖗𝖞...
Musings on Bayeux tapestry...

With tapestry now on exhibition in British Museum, first occurrence of it “visiting” England in almost 1000 years, it is no wonder that a lot of interest developed to various aspects of such a rare artifact.
great amount of materials surfaced on media. The reading and translation of Latin inscriptions; the historical moments explanations for depictions; the structure of tapestry; the provenance; reports from the exhibition, etc.
And only a lazy one did not tell that “it is not a correct naming, it’s not a tapestry, it’s an embroidery”.

But let’s delve a little deeper?
What would be the origin of the naming? Since William spoke French, most likely it would be French term:

Tapisserie de Bayeux

If we look at the definition of the word “tapisserie” there are few meanings:
- tapestry as we know it
- Wallpaper or something that covers the wall - which would be true in tapestry but also related to initial place of tapestry display. height 50cm won’t cover any wall but will adorn the part adjacent to the ceiling.
As it was traditionally stored in a wooden chest and hung annually in the nave of Bayeux Cathedral for short periods of public viewing.
- needlework - which what it actually is - an embroidery.

So t might have been, that direct translation to English, taking first meaning was misleading...

09/24/2026

In anticipation of the return of Triumph of Avarice tapestry, once belonged to Henry VIII, from restoration and conservation.
End of 2026-beginning of 2027.

The Morgan Library & Museum

After almost 120 years on view in the East Room of the Morgan’s his...