The Tolkien Tapestries in Paris – an image gallery, commented upon (part II/II)
This is the second post on my visit to the Tolkien Tapestries (and carpets) exhibition at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris which ran from March 21st-May 18th, 2025. It is a rather eclectic collection of photos I have taken in Paris which I will shortly comment below each photo triplet.
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- The back of a tapestry (c) Marcel R. Bülles, Tolkien exhibition in Paris
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- The back of a tapestry (c) Marcel R. Bülles, Tolkien exhibition in Paris
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- The back of a tapestry (c) Marcel R. Bülles, Tolkien exhibition in Paris
One of the things that I found absolutely mesmerizing is looking at the back of the tapestries. This may not be of interest to a lot of people but I also love the back of paintings – there are actually exhibitions the world over in major museums on what is BEHIND a painting. The reason is that curators and museums ‘mark’ their paintings, make notes, comment on the status of the painting etc – so it literally reads like a bunch of leafs stacked together, in different scripts, with different notations, handwritings etc. Absolutely fascinating!
With the tapestries it is wild to realise how much of the thread is literally the ‘background’ to what we see in the front.
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- Tiny details in large tapestries (c) Marcel R. Bülles, Tolkien exhibition in Paris
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- Tiny details in large tapestries (c) Marcel R. Bülles, Tolkien exhibition in Paris
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- Tiny details in large tapestries (c) Marcel R. Bülles, Tolkien exhibition in Paris
As is mentioned in the first post Denis Bridoux found wonderful details in the tapestries and carpets and I have tried to find a few for you. Do guess where they are from!
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- Tiny details in large tapestries (c) Marcel R. Bülles, Tolkien exhibition in Paris
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- Tiny details in large tapestries (c) Marcel R. Bülles, Tolkien exhibition in Paris
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- The Gardens of the Merking’s Palace (c) Marcel R. Bülles, Tolkien exhibition in Paris
Some more details – and should you ever stand in front of ‘The Gardens of the Merking’s Palace’ I dare you to find all the little quirks and details of this outstanding painting.
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- Famille Sauron, Grab (c) Marcel R. Bülles
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- Famille Sauron, Grab (c) Marcel R. Bülles
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- Famille Sauron, Grab (c) Marcel R. Bülles
I know, I know, I need to do an explanatory post on the simple fact that in certain parts of France ‘Sauron’ is a fairly regular family name.
I do hope you have enjoyed my little trip to Paris – if you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to write to me anytime.
Until then – don’t forget to subscribe to the all-things Tolkienian (+ extras) newsletter, the Roving Ranger (link below.)
