Tapestry of Life

In this age of phones that take high-definition photos, there are generations of people who can't imagine there being a time when there was no fast, simple means of pictorially recording events.  From drawings on cave walls to paintings or bas relief in tombs and religious buildings, to photography--man seems to have a need to show the importance of certain events or people in his life.

In the Medieval era, this was done primarily through paintings, which were typically commissioned by a wealthy patron (an individual or an entity, such as the Church), but not always.

The earliest tapestries were believed to be Greek and produced in the 2nd-3rd century.  The Egyptians produced a form of tapestry called kepati, and the Chinese, as early as the Tang Dynasty in the early 7th century, produced  cut silk tapestries called kesi

Generally considered to be the oldest known European tapestry is the Cloth of St. Gereon (right), dating back to the early 11th century.  It's purpose was ornamental, and both the patterns and the weave show oriental or Byzantine influence.



Below is another famous piece, the Bayeux Tapestry.  It is not considered technically a tapestry, but an embroidered cloth since it is stitched and not woven.  It depicts scenes leading up to the Norman conquest of England, culminating in the Battle of Hastings, and is approximately 70 meters long.  Some historians believe it was commissioned by the Bishop Odo, half-brother to William the Conqueror, and was believed to have first been seen at the dedication of his cathedral on July 14, 1077.



Bayeux Tapestry
Photo courtesy of  hans_s/Foter.com/CC BY-ND

By about 1300, with improvements in looms, tapestries became much more common.  They were often used by the Church to depict biblical scenes for the commoners, who were illiterate and unable to read texts. Tapestries also came into common use by the nobility as art, or to commemorate and display family heraldry or significant events.  One of the most commonly-reproduced tapestries is "The Lady and the Unicorn" shown below and which dates back to the 15th century:




The last example of European tapestry art is one of several "Wawel" tapestries, held by the Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, Poland.  Most if not all were commissioned by Sigisimund II Augustus, king of Poland. 


              

         The Wickedness of the Human Race Before the Flood.  Made in Brussels circa 1553

 

An example of Chinese kesi appears below.  Later, around the 15th or 16th century, some of these tapestries were embellished with brushwork and colors.  It's difficult to believe, with such intricate detail as these show, that they were woven on a loom.

 

 Cut silk of the Song Dynasty

In Europe, the popularity of tapestries declined with the advent of the French Revolution, not only because many of the artisans were located in France, but also because they came to symbolize the opulent decadence of the ruling class.  Antique tapestries, at least those prior to the 19th century and which are not in museums or private collections, are not that easy to come by.  However, in this digital age, even the most complex tapestries are simple to produce--just in case you have an event in your life you'd like to commemorate or display.