A unique piece in terms of its dimensions, age and state of conservation, the Apocalypse tapestry, visible at the Château d'Angers, was entered on Friday, May 19, 2023, in the UNESCO "Memory of the World" register.
The oldest and largest historic tapestry in the world, the Apocalypse tapestry is now part of the very closed circle of properties registered in the UNESCO "Memory of the World" register. "The Apocalypse of Angers is the heritage of the people of Angers and the French. Seeing it included in the UNESCO Memory of the World register is a great source of pride. It is the result of a long application process initiated in 2015 by Christophe Béchu, then mayor of Angers, the services of the City and the State", enthuses the mayor of Angers Jean-Marc Verchère. It was then the joint action of the City, the DRAC of Pays de la Loire and the Domaine national du château d'Angers which led to this recognition, which was confirmed this Friday, May 19.
Established in 1992, this register was first created to facilitate the conservation of documentary heritage. Made up of a wide variety of media (written, radio and film archives, libraries, tapestries, etc.), these assets often have in common their great fragility, and are exposed throughout the world to many perils: dispersion, trafficking, looting, etc. The program also seeks to promote knowledge of this heritage, and as such distinguishes pieces whose historical value is proven, in what they allow to see and understand of their era.
A true "medieval comic strip", the Apocalypse tapestry fits perfectly into this framework. Over 100m long, it depicts in six chapters the last text of the Bible: the Apocalypse according to Saint John. Which is told according to the vision of the time, the 14th century, a period of unrest and disorder marked by the Hundred Years' War between France and England.
Commissioned by the Duke of Anjou Louis I and made from 1373/75 to 1380/82, the Apocalypse tapestry also represents a major technical milestone in the art of tapestry. Its "backless" technique, the finesse of its weaving and its gigantic size inspired the great historical tapestries of the time, of which it remains today the only example.
Although mistreated throughout its long history, it presents a state of conservation that allows the majority of its pieces to be exhibited, visible in a dedicated gallery in the heart of the Château d'Angers, with levels of luminosity, humidity and temperature that guarantee its preservation. 260,000 visitors admire it each year.
