Quest for the Holy Grail - The Tapestries of William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones
Morning Lecture
19 June 2024
The Arming and Departure of the Knights, one of the Holy Grail tapestries.
In 1845, William Morris travelled around Northern France, visiting the tapestry weaving studios to learn the technique of medieval tapestry weaving. At the same time, his dear friend Edward Burne-Jones, purchased a copy of Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory.
Through the comradeship of the knights and their heroic quests, described in the book, Morris and Burne-Jones saw an allegory for their own artistic achievements. This book became their major source for inspiration throughout their lives, and culminated in their finest artistic achievement, a narrative series of tapestries called ‘The Quest for the Holy Grail’. The tapestries were commissioned, in 1888, by the Australian millionaire William Knox D’Arcy, to decorate and furnish the interior of his home, Stanmore Hall in Middlesex. This was their final major commission, as Morris died within a year of their completion and Burne-Jones died two years later.
Through her personal conservation of these tapestries, Jacqueliine Hyman is able to show a rare insight into their construction, design and artistic skill, illustrating her lecture with unique detailed images.
Our Speaker Jacqueline Hyman is a freelance textile historian and conservationist, gaining her textile conservation experience with the Museums’ Service. She says she knew at around 14-16 years old what she wanted to do and from then on began taking the appropriate courses.
She established The Textile Restoration Studio in 1982 in Altrincham, Cheshire and is listed in ICON's (the Institute of Conservation’s) Conservation Register as an accredited Conservator-Restorer, skilled in conserving artefacts for Museums, private clients and Heritage properties.
Together with her husband Michael she also runs the sister company Restore Products (www.restore-products.co.uk), which provides a range of Textile Conservation materials to museums, stately homes and churches, as well as to the general public who wish to look after their treasured textiles.
Jacqui lectures and leads study days/courses for The Arts Society, Embroiderers’ Guild, Lace Guild, Antique Collectors’ clubs and others. She has appeared on Channel 4, BBC2 and the Discovery Channel.
Jacqueline Hyman