File:"No. 2 Tapestry in Painted Chamber" (cut) - John Carter.jpg

Object: Copy of a tapestry

Place of origin: London (made)

Date: ca. 1790-1810 (made)

Artist/Maker: Carter, John F.S.A, born 1748 - died 1817 (artist)

Materials and Techniques: Watercolour drawing

Credit Line: From the Gardner and Coates collections

Gallery location: Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C, case T, shelf 10

Physical description

Watercolour drawing depicting part of a 15th century tapestry that once hung in the Palace of Westminster including Achilles in the top left hand corner, Agamemnon, Menelaus, and others, with Greeks fighting from their ships against a castle labelled Tenedos or Tenebos.

Place of Origin London (made)

Date ca. 1790-1810 (made)

Artist/maker Carter, John F.S.A, born 1748 - died 1817 (artist)

Materials and Techniques Watercolour drawing

Dimensions Height: 11.75 in, Width: 21.25 in

Object history note:

The tapestries depicted were woven in Flanders in the last half of the 15th century. The five depicted were originally part of a series of eleven, known as 'The Great History of Troy'. Each panel contained two or three episodes taken from the 'Roman de Troie' by Benoit de Saint-More, published ca. 1164.

In 1789, several architects including Adam, Wyatt, and Dance, had reported to a committee of the Commons in favour of rebuilding the Palace of Westminster. By way of protest against this proposal, involving the removal of the tapestries, John Carter published a series of articles in 'Gentleman's Magazine' entitled 'The Pursuits of Architectural Innovation', under the anonymous nom de plume 'An Artist'. In spite of his protest the tapestries were removed and some years later were sold in 1820 for £10 to the late Charles Yarnold. After his death in 1825, they were included in a catalogue of Yarnold's curiosities and were bought by a Mr Matheman for £7. In the catalogue they were described as Plantagenet tapestries. Those depicted in E.2252 to 2254-1924 were bought for 60 guineas by a Mr Teschemacher and nothing is known of them after 1829.

Descriptive line Drawing with inscription 'No. 2 Tapestry in Painted Chamber' by John Carter F.S.A., ca. 1790-1810.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no) Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings, Accessions 1924, published under the Authority of the Board of Education, London, 1926.

Materials Watercolour

Techniques Watercolour drawing

Subjects depicted Tapestries; Chambers; Castles; Ships

Categories Drawings; Tapestry; Textiles; Myths & Legends

Collection