During the later Middle Ages, England enjoyed an international reputation for the quality of its luxury embroideries. Made by professional embroiderers in London workshops, they were sought after by kings and queens, popes and cardinals from across Europe. In inventories outside England, these rich and elaborate textiles are often described as ‘Opus Anglicanum’, English work, with some of the most exceptional examples surviving in church treasuries in Italy, France and Spain.
The major V&A exhibition ‘Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery’ (1 October 2016 – 5 February 2017) celebrates the extraordinary beauty of English medieval embroidery, and the artistic achievements of its makers. For the first time in more than fifty years, it will be possible to see highlights from the museum’s own collection alongside some of the most important surviving examples of Opus Anglicanum from Europe and America. These will be complemented by manuscript illuminations, panel paintings, ivory carvings and stained glass, anchoring the embroideries in the wider artistic context of their time, and testifying to their central role in English medieval art.
In this lecture, the curatorial team who put together the exhibition will share some of the stories behind it. They will talk about how the project came into being, present the main topics explored in the exhibition, and share the discoveries they made and the practical challenges they faced during research and preparation for the show.
M.A. Michael is academic director of Christie’s Education, London, and research fellow at the School of Culture and Creative Arts, University of Glasgow; Glyn Davies is curator of medieval sculpture and Clare Browne is curator of pre-1800 textiles at the V&A; Michaela Zöschg is the exhibition research assistant.
Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery has been generously supported by the Ruddock Foundation for the Arts and supported by Hand & Lock’.