In this episode, we’ll be visiting The Story of Abraham Tapestries at the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace in England. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King.
Filling the walls of the Great Hall are a series of tapestries depicting scenes from the life of the patriarch Abraham, as recounted in the Book of Genesis. It is likely that these tapestries were commissioned by Henry VIII and were first displayed in the Great Hall in 1546. Crafted in Brussels from a combination of wool, silk, and threads of gold and silver, these tapestries were assessed at a remarkable £8,260 during the valuation of the Royal Collection following the execution of Charles I in 1649. This valuation established them as the most prized possessions within the collection. Over time, the tapestries were frequently relocated and presumably utilized to embellish Westminster Abbey during the coronation of Elizabeth I.
By Anthony King (c)