Tapestry
1672 (woven)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The set of Kings and Queens tapestries at Houghton is unique; unlike most series of tapestries, no other set was made to these designs. They were a prestigious royal commission from the workshop of Francis Poyntz the King’s Arras-Maker, dated and signed, and woven more finely than any of his other surviving tapestries.
The tapestries were at Houghton in Sir Robert Walpole’s lifetime, and listed in the 1745 inventory. Their use nearly one hundred years after their making in such a newly built and furnished house as Houghton is of particular interest.
On loan to Houghton Hall.
The tapestries were at Houghton in Sir Robert Walpole’s lifetime, and listed in the 1745 inventory. Their use nearly one hundred years after their making in such a newly built and furnished house as Houghton is of particular interest.
On loan to Houghton Hall.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | tapestry woven in wool with silk and metal thread |
| Brief description | Tapestry depicting James I and Anne of Denmark, English, 1672 |
| Physical description | Tapestry hanging woven in wool and silk, with metal thread. The tapestry depicts King James I and Queen Anne of Denmark, in separate scenes divided by borders containing oval portraits of Stuart children: Prince Charles, later Charles I on the left, Prince Henry in the middle and Price Charles, later Charles II on the right. The figures of the King and Queen are taken from portraits by Paul Van Somer. It will be fully described in Wendy Hefford's forthcoming Catalogue of English Tapestries. The tapestry has been joined at its right edge to the left edge of T.68-2002, the tapestry depicting King Charles I. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | F P Fecit 1672
Paul Van Somer Pinxit Anno 1617 (Latin; weaving) |
| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum |
| Object history | The presence of the tapestries at Houghton Hall in the time of Sir Robert Walpole is well documented, and the set is named in the inventory taken on his death in 1745. |
| Production | The tapestry was woven in the workshop of Francis Poyntz the King's Arras Maker. It is part of a set bearing the initials IB for James Bridges, a tapestry-weaver working for Poyntz who later set up his own workshop. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The set of Kings and Queens tapestries at Houghton is unique; unlike most series of tapestries, no other set was made to these designs. They were a prestigious royal commission from the workshop of Francis Poyntz the King’s Arras-Maker, dated and signed, and woven more finely than any of his other surviving tapestries. The tapestries were at Houghton in Sir Robert Walpole’s lifetime, and listed in the 1745 inventory. Their use nearly one hundred years after their making in such a newly built and furnished house as Houghton is of particular interest. On loan to Houghton Hall. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.67-2002 |
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| Record created | September 25, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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