Burghley

Arts and Learning - The Collections - Tapestries

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A detail of one the Gobelins tapestries
A detail of one the Gobelins tapestries

The staterooms house some remarkable tapestries—both English and French—most of which were purchased by John, the 5th Earl and his Countess in the late 17th century. Most of the tapestries at Burghley are clearly recorded in the celebrated Inventory of the house, taken in 1688 and many have been cleaned and conserved in the last decade. In the Black & Yellow bedroom, visitors can see two tapestries from the ‘Arabesques’ series, made in London, circa 1700, at the Great Queen Street workshop of John Vanderbank. Whilst ‘Fortitude’ is partially obscured by the splendid State bed, ‘Fame’ can be seen at close quarters. Hanging in Queen Elizabeth’s bedroom are several tapestries made at the Parisian Gobelins workshops of Jean Jans. These are fine examples of the 5th Earl’s purchases whilst abroad. He is recorded as having visited the Gobelins in 1680.
A set of four tapestries, woven at the London Mortlake works circa 1680 and in remarkable condition, can be seen in the Blue Silk bedroom. Also in an astonishingly good state of preservation are the three ‘Elements’ tapestries by John Vanderbank that form part of the sumptuous decoration of the 2nd George room, designed as the grandest of the state bedrooms.