A Year of Weeping

The Weepers, 2022-2023

It is now a year since the sudden passing of Hilary Mantel on 22 September 2022. I still cannot believe that this is true.

In the days following her death, I thought of memorials, mourning, and grief; I wondered how her characters – so alive on the page – might pay tribute. I thought of weeper tombs – those elaborate memorials that include kneeling mourners paying silent tribute to the departed. And I stitched a series of weepers, who do not pray, but who each hold a copy of a book from Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy; with precisely written and now carefully chosen words about each of them unrolling from the pages.

The Weepers: A tribute to Dame Hilary Mantel, 6 July 1952-22 September 2022.

A quilted picture of Thomas Cromwell, kneeling under an arch and holding a book. A strip of fabric with text attached falls from the book.
The Weepers: Thomas
A quilted picture of Elizabeth Wykyes, kneeling under an arch and holding a book. A strip of fabric with text attached falls from the book.
The Weepers: Lizzie
A quilted picture of Anne and Grace Cromwell, kneeling under an arch and holding a book each. Strips of fabric with text attached fall from their books. Above them, stitched text reads “Do not forget us. As the year turns, we are here”.
The Weepers: Anne and Grace
A quilted picture of Gregory Cromwell, kneeling under an arch and holding a book. A strip of fabric with text attached falls from the book.
The Weepers: Gregory
A quilted picture of Helen Barre, kneeling under an arch and holding a book. A strip of fabric with text attached falls from the book.
The Weepers: Helen
A quilted picture of Rafe Sadler, kneeling under an arch and holding a book. A strip of fabric with text attached falls from the book.
The Weepers: Rafe
A quilted picture of Jenneke, kneeling under an arch and holding a book. A strip of fabric with text attached falls from the book.
The Weepers: Jenneke
A quilted picture of Christophe Cremuel, kneeling under an arch and holding a book. A strip of fabric with text attached falls from the book.
The Weepers: Christophe Cremuel

All photographs © Michael Wicks

2 thoughts on “A Year of Weeping”

  2. Despite the fact that I now read far less than I should her passing did hit me. She most certainly was a larger than life lady who really made an impact. The passing of time is extraordinary. I truly hope her writing will be read in the future. May she rest in peace 🌺

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