The Bayeux Tapestry, a renowned historical artifact documenting the Norman conquest of England in 1066, will be temporarily unavailable for public viewing in France starting Monday, amid growing opposition to its planned relocation to London.
The public is anticipated to have the next opportunity to view the nearly millennium-old artwork when it is displayed at the British Museum, scheduled for September of the following year.
However, the proposed loan has encountered significant resistance within the French art community, with experts expressing concerns that the 70-meter (230ft) tapestry is too fragile to endure transportation across the English Channel.
The loan was jointly announced by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a meeting in London this past July.
In the weeks leading up to the museum’s closure on September 1st, the Bayeux Museum has experienced a notable surge in visitor numbers.
The museum is set to undergo a period of renovation, with a new display area being constructed for the tapestry, a project expected to take at least two years.
The planned closure presented President Macron with an opportunity to engage in cultural diplomacy, committing France to loan the tapestry to the British Museum for a year starting next September.
However, this commitment has sparked considerable controversy within the French art world.
A petition opposing the loan, describing it as a “cultural crime,” has garnered over 60,000 signatures.
Critics primarily object to what they perceive as President Macron’s unilateral decision to offer the gesture to the UK, allegedly disregarding the advice of specialists who caution that the vibrations inherent in a long road journey could cause irreparable damage.
On August 22nd, a French official overseeing the loan defended the decision, asserting that the artifact is not too fragile to be transported.
Philippe Bélaval stated that while no final decision has been made regarding the method of transportation, a study conducted earlier this year provided detailed recommendations for handling and transport.
Quoted by AFP, Belaval clarified that “This study absolutely does not state that this tapestry is untransportable.” He did not disclose the authors of the study or their specific conclusions.
In a YouTube post from February, Cecile Binet, a regional museum advisor for Normandy, suggested that moving the tapestry over long distances would pose “a risk to its conservation,” emphasizing its fragile state.
The expansive embroidery, widely believed to have originated in Kent, is scheduled to be exhibited in London from next autumn until July 2027.
In return, treasures including artifacts from the Anglo-Saxon burial mounds at Sutton Hoo and the 12th Century Lewis chess pieces will travel to museums in Normandy.
The Bayeux Tapestry, dating back to the 11th Century, depicts a contentious period in Anglo-French relations, marking the transition from Anglo-Saxon to Norman rule.
Although the final section of the embroidery is missing, the tapestry culminates with the Anglo-Saxons fleeing the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Comprising 58 scenes, 626 characters, and 202 horses, it offers a unique insight into medieval life in Normandy and England, revealing details not only about military traditions but also about everyday life.
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