Join Deborah Clarke, Senior Curator at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, for this talk on the outstanding collection of tapestries in the Royal Collection. In advance of a major exhibition Charles II: Art & Power opening at The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, this November, learn about the tapestries currently on display in the Palace, who commissioned or collected them, and the role they play in providing both spectacle and furnishing to the royal residence.
For many centuries tapestries were the primary decorative form at the royal court, far exceeding paintings or other works of art in status and expense. The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh contains one of the greatest collections of 17th century tapestry in the world, including the Diogenes series made at Mortlake and the French Diana series, both acquired by Charles II (1630–1685). Tapestries were added by James, Duke of York (the future James VII) and Queen Victoria and the story of the tapestry collection is integral to the history of the Palace itself. This fully illustrated talk is a rare opportunity to gain an insight into some of the most important works of art in the Royal Collection.
Deborah Clarke is Senior Curator, Royal Collection Trust, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and is writing a book on the history of the Palace.
Image: Mary Queen of Scots Bedchamber, The Royal Collection Trust, the Palace of Holyroodhouse
