Bayeux Tapestry (Battle of Hastings, Scene 6) Showing the Death of Harold

Bayeux Tapestry (Battle of Hastings, Scene 6) Showing the Death of Harold, Victorian Replica

Figure 1

Bayeux Tapestry (Battle of Hastings, Scene 6) Showing the Death of Harold
Victorian Replica
Embroidery woolen yarns on linen
Copyright Reading Museum Service (Reading Borough Council)
www.readingmuseum.org.uk

Harold is first seen plucking an arrow from his eye, then being slain by a Norman knight

'The Tree of Life' Cathedral of Otranto, southern Italy

'The Tree of Life' Cathedral of Otranto, southern Italy, 1163

Figure 2

The Tree of Life
Cathedral of Otranto
Southern Italy
1163
Pavement mosaic

Erich Lessing/ Art Resource, NY

'King Arthur Rides to Seek the Grail', Otranto Cathedral pavement mosaic

'King Arthur Rides to Seek the Grail', Otranto Cathedral pavement mosaic, 1163

Figure 3

King Arthur Rides to Seek the Grail
Otranto Cathedral
Southern Italy
1163
Pavement mosaic

Erich Lessing/ Art Resource, NY

'Mermaid', From the Ortranto Cathedral Pavement Mosaic Presbytery

'Mermaid', From the Ortranto Cathedral Pavement Mosaic Presbytery, 1163

Figure 4

'Mermaid'
From the Ortranto Cathedral Presbytery
Southern Italy
1163
Pavement mosaic

Erich Lessing/ Art Resource, NY

The Tristan Quilt, about 1360–1400. Museum no. 1391-1904

The Tristan Quilt, about 1360–1400. Museum no. 1391-1904

Figure 5

The Tristan Quilt
Sicily, Italy
about 1360–1400
Linen quilted and padded with wadding
Museum no. 1391-1904

'How Tristainu Smote the Amoroldo in the Head', Detail from the Tristan Quilt

'How Tristainu Smote the Amoroldo in the Head', Detail from the Tristan Quilt, about 1360-1400. Museum no. 1391-1904

Figure 6

'How Tristainu Smote the Amoroldo in the Head'
Detail from the Tristan Quilt
Sicily, Italy
about 1360-1400
Linen quilted and padded with wadding
Museum no. 1391-1904

A tile showing a hunter blowing an Oliphant and holding his dog on leash, Abbey of Saint Remi

A tile showing a hunter blowing an Oliphant and holding his dog on leash, Abbey of Saint Remi, 14th Century

Figure 12

A tile showing a hunter blowing an Oliphant and holding his dog on leash
Abbey of Saint Remi
14th Century
Museum of Saint Remi, Reims, France

The tile was excavated and made at the Lorans tile works in nearby Hautvillier

'How Tristainu Gives the Glove of Battle to the Amoroldo', The Tristan Quilt detail

'How Tristainu Gives the Glove of Battle to the Amoroldo', The Tristan Quilt detail, about 1360-1400. Museum no. 1391-1904

Figure 7

'How Tristainu Gives the Glove of Battle to the Amoroldo'
The Tristan Quilt detail
Sicily, Italy
about 1360-1400
Linen quilted and padded with wadding
Museum no. 1391-1904

Charles V receiving a Bible from the hands of Jean de Vaudetar, Petrus Comestor; Paris

Charles V receiving a Bible from the hands of Jean de Vaudetar, Petrus Comestor; Paris, Raoulet d'Orléans (scribe), Jean Bondol, First Master of the Bible of Jean de Sy, and others 1372

Figure 8

Charles V receiving a Bible from the hands of Jean de Vaudetar, Petrus Comestor; Paris
Raoulet d'Orléans (scribe), Jean Bondol, First Master of the Bible of Jean de Sy, and others
1372
 
MMW, 10 B 23, folio 2, Museum Meermanno, The Hague, the Netherlands

Rene of Anjou and Jeanne de Laval, Chateau of King Rene

Rene of Anjou and Jeanne de Laval, Chateau of King Rene, 15th century

Figure 9

Rene of Anjou and Jeanne de Laval
Chateau of King Rene
15th century
Stone

Kathryn Berenson

Drawing of 'Courte-pointe du XIIIe siècle' embroidery, From Les Toiles Brodées

Drawing of 'Courte-pointe du XIIIe siècle' embroidery, From Les Toiles Brodées, Anciennes Mantes ou Courte-pointes conservées a l'Hôtel-Dieu de Reims by Charles-Prosper Givelet 1883

Figure 10

Drawing of 'Courte-pointe du XIIIe siècle' embroidery
From Les Toiles Brodées, Anciennes Mantes ou Courte-pointes conservées a l'Hôtel-Dieu de Reims by Charles-Prosper Givelet
1883

Note the mermaid and the harpies (figures with the head of a man and the body of a bird) in the body; the hunter blowing a horn, his dog on a leash in the right border.

Harpy, Detail from the drawing of 'Courte-pointe du XIIIe siècle' embroidery from Les Toiles Brodées

Harpy, Detail from the drawing of 'Courte-pointe du XIIIe siècle' embroidery from Les Toiles Brodées, Anciennes Mantes ou Courte-pointes conservées a l'Hôtel-Dieu de Reims by Charles-Prosper Givelet, 1883

Figure 11

Harpy
Detail from the drawing of 'Courte-pointe du XIIIe siècle' embroidery from Les Toiles Brodées
Anciennes Mantes ou Courte-pointes conservées a l'Hôtel-Dieu de Reims
Charles-Prosper Givelet
1883

Amid other fantastic creatures portrayed in the embroidery is a harpy, a human head atop the body of a bird, a medieval symbol for the souls of the redeemed.

Cover (lit from behind) 1500s, Museum No. 1568-1902

Cover (lit from behind) 1500s, Museum No. 1568-1902

Figure 13

Cover
Possibly Germany
1500s
Quilted Linen
Museum No. 1568-1902.
Width 111cm x Length 198cm approc excluding fringe

Cover lit from behind

Sketch of a fantastic beast

Sketch of a fantastic beast

Figure 15

Sketch of a fantastic beast
Worked in the coverlet demonstrates a form analogous to those depicted in other medieval textiles and manuscripts

Kathryn Berenson

Cover, 1500s

Cover, 1500s, Museum No. 1568-1902

Figure 14

Cover
Possibly German
1500s
Quilted Linen
Width 111cm x Length 198cm approc excluding fringe
Museum No. 1568-1902

This early linen coverlet of European origin depicts an orderly arrangement of fabulous birds and beasts brought into relief by corded quilting.