Gold and Glory
Hampton Court Palace
2021

On 7 June 1520, Henry VIII and Francis I met in a field near Guînes in Northern France. A magnificent cloth of gold tent was pitched in the Golden Vale, between two man-made hillocks. A vast temporary palace was constructed, wine flowed from fountains, shields hung from a tree of honour beside the tiltyard and, over the next fortnight, the kings and thousands of English and French courtiers indulged in a programme of spectacular feasts, jousting, wrestling, masquerades and other entertainments. Known as The Field of Cloth of Gold, the extraordinary event had its 500th  anniversary in 2020, but due to the Covid pandemic, the exhibition opening was delayed until 2021.

The exhibition filled six spaces of the Wolsey Rooms at the palace and use a design motif of timber staffs - reminiscent of the soldiers’ pikes and polearms - as well as tent poles used at the event. These supported banners and flags in the opposing blue and red of the French and English sides and also supported text panels printed onto fabric.

Room 1 served as an introduction to England and France in 1520 including large paintings. Room 2 introduced Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII’s chief minister and principal organisers of The Field of Cloth of Gold.

Room 3 told the story of the preparations and all the items that were shipped across the channel for the event.  It took the form of chests and crates stacked on a platform in the centre - like a laden ship with fabric banners like ships sails. A large painting ‘Embarkation at Dover’ of the ships setting sail was presented here.

Room 4 presented the large Field of Cloth of Gold painting which was supported on an undulating ‘cloth of gold’ structure which also provided a barrier and concealment of lighting and projection. The projection sequentially highlighted different parts of the painting with accompanying soundtrack to explain the various activities at the meeting, competitions , feast and festivities and finishing with a dragon kite being flown.

Room 5 - God and Gold – a large central showcase with illuminated banners overhead contained Illuminated manuscripts and beautifully embroidered religious vestments. The final Room 6 recreated the circular golden tent in which Henry VIII and Francis I actually met to sign the treaty, which promised peace in Europe.  The golden gauze tent wall becomes transparent to reveal a projection showing the archery, jousting and wrestling tournaments between English and French sides, but also alludes to the fact that the truce would be short-lived and war returned soon after.