Mary Queen of Scots tapestries: drawings

I have spent today and a previous afternoon on these sketches, and plan to create some large sized panels inspired by these wonderful tapestries created by Mary Queen of Scots and Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury. At the time of Mary's execution in 1587, more than 300 worked panels depicting flowers, birds, beasts and fish were found with her belongings. The embroidered and appliquéd pieces were subsequently mounted on dark green velvet later on in the 17th Century. These panels now belong to the Victoria and Albert Museum, but have been loaned to Oxburgh Hall. The panels originally came to the Hall as part of the dowry of Mary Browne, daughter of 5th Viscount Montague, when she married Sir Richard Bedingfeld of Oxburgh Hall in 1761. She was descended from Sir Anthony Browne, a Commissioner at the Fotheringhay trial of Mary Queen of Scots.  For more details on these panels, visit Oxburgh Hall, a National Trust property in Norfolk.

' Marian Panel', Oxburgh Hall, National Trust
Sketch book Page: detail of corner of centrepiece

The red raised 'couched' thread was originally gold, but has now worn away to it's red core, which I will use as a main motif in the first panel I will paint.

'Marian Panel'
Sketch book page. Lower right detail of padded satin covered border of cross shaped piece on the Cavendish Hanging

Embossed Leather wall covering: Oxburgh Hall
There are hundreds of square feet of beautifully painted wall coverings in the corridors and stairwells of the Hall, all with different designs and background colours. Another trip, I think, to capture more!

Red Peacock Fragment

Another smaller fragment, this time my inspiration is from another wedding sari belonging to a friend. This will be of a similar size to the 'Blue Peacock Fragment' and will be resined when finished.

Red Peacock 'Fragment'

A sketch book page 

A sketch book page of  drawings, showing a preliminary layout idea in the top left of the page.

Green Sari Fragment

I've started again on the fragemnt series now that the Peterborough Artist's Open Studios is over, and I have some peace and quiet! This is quite a long piece and will be resined on both sides, and a backing will allow it to be hung without framing. A bit of an experiment....

Stage 2 detail. Under painting with French Ultramarine to strengthen the silver 

Stage 2 working out placements of motifs

Stage 3 including alarazin crimson and some more motif details

Stage 3: overpainting and cutting through the hand made paper to form an actual fringe which will need reinforcing in the final stages. This is a bit of a gamble, the paper may be too fragile to retain it's shape even after the resin stage, but it's worth trying!

Stage 3:  some corrections to keep the overall balance. Some additional details need to be included in the top section, including some more cut-work.