The Bayeux Tapestry?

chillidoggy

Is supposedly to be displayed in Britain after 'months of talks between culture departments'.

If you haven't already seen the tapestry, it's basically a fucking great long, single piece of embroidered piece of cloth which tells the story of an invasion of England by, you guessed it, the French.

Personally, I was totally underwhelmed when I saw it, frankly I've seen more impressive works of art by local 'artists' on walls in Margate. Mind you, I've also seen the Mona Lisa, and I found that to be a bit of a let down. When I visited the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, I was mightily impressed with the building's architecture, but not with the shite inside it, so maybe I'm a just a philistine.

So, will you be going to see the tapestry when it arrives?

not_the_dj

I'm sure they'll be plenty of schools organising trips to see it. I've never seen it, and depending on where it's displayed in the UK I'm sure we'll have a family day out.

paulnb57

No......

On a trip to London Village a while back, we realised Ms nb57's desire to do Tate Modern, where I dutifully tagged along.......I just don't get it at all, perhaps a piece in isolation might be ok, but best for me was the giant spider out front.....after several floors she suddenly said "Get me out of here, I've seen enough of this shit!" 

Did the Parliament tour...much better!

ICBM

I've seen it in Bayeux, and I have to say I thought it was stunning, both as a historical 'document' and as a work of art. (I also think the Mona Lisa justifies its reputation, for what it's worth!)

The interesting thing about the Bayeux Tapestry is that according to current research it was made in England, not France.

VimFuego

yeah, saw it as a kid many moons ago and was blown away. Would love to see it again.

guitars4you

ICBM said:

I've seen it in Bayeux, and I have to say I thought it was stunning, both as a historical 'document' and as a work of art. (I also think the Mona Lisa justifies its reputation, for what it's worth!)

The interesting thing about the Bayeux Tapestry is that according to current research it was made in England, not France.

didn't have to time to see when I went to Bayeux last year - But thought Bayeux looked a lovely town and will go back when passing by again - Surprised it got no/little damage during the Normandy landings as per many other owns in the area, especially to all the historic buildings and appropriate area

ICBM

guitars4you said:

Surprised it got no/little damage during the Normandy landings as per many other owns in the area, especially to all the historic buildings and appropriate area

If I remember rightly the Allies deliberately avoided it because of its historical significance.

Some of the very senior military were surprisingly caring about that, despite the 'total' nature of the war - Kyoto in Japan was never bombed either, for the same reason.

munckee

chillidoggy said:

Is supposedly to be displayed in Britain after 'months of talks between culture departments'.

If you haven't already seen the tapestry, it's basically a fucking great long, single piece of embroidered piece of cloth which tells the story of an invasion of England by, you guessed it, the French.

Personally, I was totally underwhelmed when I saw it, frankly I've seen more impressive works of art by local 'artists' on walls in Margate. Mind you, I've also seen the Mona Lisa, and I found that to be a bit of a let down. When I visited the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, I was mightily impressed with the building's architecture, but not with the shite inside it, so maybe I'm a just a philistine.

So, will you be going to see the tapestry when it arrives?

We were never conquered by the french FFS, they were norsemen (normans) who were given a bit of france to stop them taking paris.  Plus they defeated the saxon's who were german anyway.  conquered by the f'cking french indeed! : )

Phil_aka_Pip

I think I'd like to see it, and I'm more likely to if it's in this country for a little while. Although given it's uniqueness and fragility, and the bloody-mindedness of some bastards that might want to harm it or the people looking at it, the words elephant and white came to mind when I heard the French were making a "gift" of a loan.

LuttiS

Leo wasn't always considered the greatest painter and Mona Lisa wasn't considered his best work - was just another of his paintings displayed in the Louvre. In 1911, an Italian disguised as a handyman stole the painting (just walked out the door with it ) It took over a day for anyone to realise it was missing. He was trying to return it to Florence where he thought it belonged. 

This all created a media sensation over the two years it took to find the painting. That's why it's the most famous painting etc. 

So being underwhelmed is probably ok!

(Abridged - there's obviously much more to it)

Probably not going to see the Bayeux Tap, but in Feb wouldn't mind going to see the Terracotta Warriors in Liverpool. That should be good

Fretwired

chillidoggy said:

Is supposedly to be displayed in Britain after 'months of talks between culture departments'.

If you haven't already seen the tapestry, it's basically a fucking great long, single piece of embroidered piece of cloth which tells the story of an invasion of England by, you guessed it, the French.

Personally, I was totally underwhelmed when I saw it, frankly I've seen more impressive works of art by local 'artists' on walls in Margate. Mind you, I've also seen the Mona Lisa, and I found that to be a bit of a let down. When I visited the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, I was mightily impressed with the building's architecture, but not with the shite inside it, so maybe I'm a just a philistine.

So, will you be going to see the tapestry when it arrives?

Luckily the Normans weren't really French. Normandy wasn't part of France in 1066 and the Normans were descendants of Vikings who were given the area around Rouen by the French King as part of a peace treaty around 910.

I agree with you about both the tapestry and the Mona Lisa. Paintings wise I was more impressed with Turner and Van Gough exhibitions at the National Gallery.

guitars4you

ICBM said:

guitars4you said:

Surprised it got no/little damage during the Normandy landings as per many other owns in the area, especially to all the historic buildings and appropriate area

If I remember rightly the Allies deliberately avoided it because of its historical significance.

Some of the very senior military were surprisingly caring about that, despite the 'total' nature of the war - Kyoto in Japan was never bombed either, for the same reason.

that was my understanding as well

Wazmeister

ICBM said:

I've seen it in Bayeux, and I have to say I thought it was stunning, both as a historical 'document' and as a work of art. (I also think the Mona Lisa justifies its reputation, for what it's worth!)

The interesting thing about the Bayeux Tapestry is that according to current research it was made in England, not France.

I agree 100% with this... I thought it was magnificent, and an incredible piece of history...

Neil

guitars4you said:

ICBM said:

guitars4you said:

Surprised it got no/little damage during the Normandy landings as per many other owns in the area, especially to all the historic buildings and appropriate area

If I remember rightly the Allies deliberately avoided it because of its historical significance.

Some of the very senior military were surprisingly caring about that, despite the 'total' nature of the war - Kyoto in Japan was never bombed either, for the same reason.

that was my understanding as well

Kyoto just about missed out, It was originally on the list for an A bomb after Hiroshima. 

Monte Cassino was similar until they realised how many allied lives were at risk because of it. 

There's a very thin line between historical sentiment and lives in war. 

MagicPigDetective

We have our own tapestry about a French invasion...in Fishguard! It was created to commemorate the last time the British mainland was invaded in February 1797.

http://lastinvasiontapestry.co.uk/

boogieman

There used to be a replica of the Bayeux Tapestry in Hastings. We had a school trip to see it in the 60s. No idea where it’s gone since, I can’t find any details of it still being there. I’d like to see the original, but more from the historical rather than artistic point of view. History fascinates me.  

ESBlonde

Did the tour on Normandy a few years ago and took in the Tapestry. As a 1000 year old piece of art/documentation it is significant. Otherwise the more recent war memorials were far more engaging. Towns Like Caen now have a lovely old world characture having been rebuilt completely by the allies after having flattened it just after the invasion.
I'm glad I saw the tapestry but won't make a repeat visit.

Neill

I'm all for a bit of cultural exchange.  I think we should give the French a lend of Nelson's Column in return.

Fretwired

Interesting fact: the Nazis believed the tapestry was an important Aryan artefact (the Normans being Vikings) so Himmler order the SS to seize the tapestry and take it to Berlin. Bletchley Park decoded the signal and got the local French resistance group to seize and hide it from the Nazis. I just heard this story on the radio.

Kilgore

Can you get a T Shirt with it printed on from the gift shop?

guitars4you

Neil said:

guitars4you said:

ICBM said:

guitars4you said:

Surprised it got no/little damage during the Normandy landings as per many other owns in the area, especially to all the historic buildings and appropriate area

If I remember rightly the Allies deliberately avoided it because of its historical significance.

Some of the very senior military were surprisingly caring about that, despite the 'total' nature of the war - Kyoto in Japan was never bombed either, for the same reason.

that was my understanding as well

Kyoto just about missed out, It was originally on the list for an A bomb after Hiroshima. 

Monte Cassino was similar until they realised how many allied lives were at risk because of it. 

There's a very thin line between historical sentiment and lives in war. 

my granddad fought at Monte Casino - he died when I was around 2 - but family stories state he 'said it was a hell hole'