Funeral procession to Westminster Abbey (top) and Battle of Hastings (bottom), details of the

Bayeux Tapestry

Alex Gelber, Michael Eagleton, Brinton Wilkey

Figure 17-35English

Romanesque Art

•These pieces of English Romanesque are details of the larger Bayeux Tapestry. •Each piece is approximately 1’8” high. The entire tapestry is approximately 20” high and 229’8” long. •The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered tapestry, with wool sewn on linen. •The tapestry is composed similar to a frieze. •The tapestry depicts the Norman conquest of England, which ended when William the Conqueror defeated Harold the Saxon at the Battle of Hastings. •The Bayeux Tapestry stands apart from other Romanesque art because it depicts detailed events shortly after they occurred.

•This detail of the tapestry depicts the funeral procession of Edward the Confessor, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, to Westminster Abbey. •Edward died in 1066. •The hand of God points the way to Westminster Abbey. •Westminster Abbey, consecrated December 28, 1065, was one of the first Romanesque buildings erected in England.

•This detail of the tapestry depicts the Battle of Hastings, in which William the Conqueror defeated Harold the Saxon and became the first Norman king of England. •Norman invaders are shown killing the Anglo-Saxon defenders. •This detail includes Greco-Roman battle motifs, such as the contorted positions of the figures.

Opinions

•These two details do not show the true immensity of the Bayeux Tapestry. •This piece is interesting because it depicts historical events. •The horse in the middle of the Battle of Hastings detail is doing a headstand; cool.

The entire tapestry