> The Bayeaux Tapestry is actually an embroidery, originallly attributed to the
> wife of William of Normandy, now thought to have been made by nuns. I don't
> know the basis for the attribution to nuns, but the art historical material on
> this piece may lead in the direction you want.
What may be surprising about the Bayeux tapestry is that its design
has been related not to nuns but to monks, specifically monks of
Canterbury and to illuminated manuscripts in their library. As to
who the embroiderers were, there is very little evidence, but it is
likely to have been a fairly large workshop, if not more than one.
It was embroidered on eight separate strips of linen, which were sewn
together after they had been embroidered. The patron of the work was
in all likelihood Odo, who was not only bishop of Bayeux but after
the conquest earl of Kent. The commission can probably be considered
essentially secular, despite Odo's episcopal status. Not only was it
probably intended to decorate a hall rather than a church, but Odo
does not seem to have thought of himself primarily as a churchman.
He was made bishop at age 13, I believe, and was rather notorious for
his concubines and bastards; in the work itself, besides being
involved in various feasting scenes, he is pictured in armour on a
warhorse in the thick of battle, his only concession to his episcopal
status apparently being his decision to carry a club into battle
rather than a sword, so that he could not be accused of shedding
blood. He eventually ran afoul of his half-brother, William the
Conqueror, who had him incarcerated for several years.
Cheers,
Jim
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