Mortlake Tapestry Works
Encyclopedia
Mortlake Tapestry Works were established alongside the River Thames
at Mortlake
, then outside, but near west London
in 1619 by Sir Francis Crane
.
granted ca.400 acre
s of Stoke Park
at Stoke Bruerne
in Northamptonshire
, England
, together with a Manor House
to Sir Francis Crane, director and founder of the Mortlake Tapestry Works established on the John Dee's estate, Mortlake, in 1619, later the site of the Queen's Head pub.
Crane was made Secretary to Charles I when he was Prince of Wales
and was knighted in 1617. With grants of land, money and high prices charged for tapestries, Crane became very wealthy.
The Mortlake works made use of the weaving skills of immigrant Flemish
workers. These workers were highly skilled in depicting natural textures and effects such as flesh and water. The 17th century was when the works was at the height of its fame and production.
, by the family of the industrialist Sir Joseph Cowen
(1800–73). The set may have been woven for the hall which was demolished in 1955. In the 17th century it was the home of the Tempests, a wealthy Catholic courtier family, loyal throughout the reigns of the Stuart kings
.
The gallery owns a complete set of six of one of the most popular tapestry series woven at the Mortlake works. It illustrates the ancient Greek story of the tragic love of the priestess Hero for Leander. Leander swam the dangerous currents of the Hellespont, the straits between Europe and Asia at the Bosphorus, in order to see his love, but was drowned one stormy night.
Mortlake’s chief designer Francis Cleyn
designed the series in 1625 and the first set was woven for James I
.
An example is: ' 'The Meeting of Hero and Leander at the Temple of Venus, Sestos’ ' ' ca.1660-70
Woven in wool and silk, 286 x 311 cm, accession number LL5464, Lady Lever Art Gallery
, Port Sunlight
, Merseyside
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
at Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
, then outside, but near west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1619 by Sir Francis Crane
Francis Crane
Sir Francis Crane was the founder of Mortlake Tapestry Works at Mortlake on the south bank of the river Thames in South West London.-Life:...
.
Royal Patronage
In 1629, Charles ICharles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
granted ca.400 acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s of Stoke Park
Stoke Park Pavilions
Stoke Park Pavilions are all that remain of the stately house and grounds of Stoke Park near the village of Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, England, approximately south of Northampton and north of Milton Keynes.- Stoke Park :...
at Stoke Bruerne
Stoke Bruerne
Stoke Bruerne is a small village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England about north of Milton Keynes and south of Northampton.-History:...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, together with a Manor House
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
to Sir Francis Crane, director and founder of the Mortlake Tapestry Works established on the John Dee's estate, Mortlake, in 1619, later the site of the Queen's Head pub.
Crane was made Secretary to Charles I when he was Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
and was knighted in 1617. With grants of land, money and high prices charged for tapestries, Crane became very wealthy.
The Mortlake works made use of the weaving skills of immigrant Flemish
Flemish people
The Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
workers. These workers were highly skilled in depicting natural textures and effects such as flesh and water. The 17th century was when the works was at the height of its fame and production.
Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight
Lord Leverhulme acquired the Mortlake tapestry series in 1918. It was sold from Stella Hall, near NewcastleNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, by the family of the industrialist Sir Joseph Cowen
Joseph Cowen
Joseph Cowen, Jr., , English politician and journalist, son of Sir Joseph Cowen, a prominent citizen and Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne from 1865 to 1873, was born at Stella Hall, Blaydon...
(1800–73). The set may have been woven for the hall which was demolished in 1955. In the 17th century it was the home of the Tempests, a wealthy Catholic courtier family, loyal throughout the reigns of the Stuart kings
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
The gallery owns a complete set of six of one of the most popular tapestry series woven at the Mortlake works. It illustrates the ancient Greek story of the tragic love of the priestess Hero for Leander. Leander swam the dangerous currents of the Hellespont, the straits between Europe and Asia at the Bosphorus, in order to see his love, but was drowned one stormy night.
Mortlake’s chief designer Francis Cleyn
Francis Cleyn
Francis Cleyn was a painter and tapestry designer.He was born in Rostock in Germany, and worked extensively for the King of Denmark before being invited to England by the future King Charles I of England in 1623...
designed the series in 1625 and the first set was woven for James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
.
An example is: ' 'The Meeting of Hero and Leander at the Temple of Venus, Sestos’ ' ' ca.1660-70
Woven in wool and silk, 286 x 311 cm, accession number LL5464, Lady Lever Art Gallery
Lady Lever Art Gallery
The Lady Lever Art Gallery was founded in 1922 by Sunlight Soap magnate, William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme, and dedicated to the memory of his wife....
, Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight is a model village, suburb and electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. It is located between Lower Bebington and New Ferry, on the Wirral Peninsula. Between 1894 and 1974 it formed part of Bebington urban district within the county of Cheshire...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...