The Field of the Cloth of Gold | Conserving an epic painting

The Field of the Cloth of Gold was an extravagant meeting between Henry VIII and Francis I in June 1520, captured in this iconic painting. Watch our film to learn more about the painting and how our conservators restored it ready for display.

The Field of the Cloth of Gold depicts a huge party and pageant in Northern France between two kings: Henry VIII and Francis I. It was organised by Cardinal Wolsey in June of 1520 to bring peace in Europe.

Royal Collection Trust conservators have done a full restoration and cleaning of this painting. The cleaning took 15 months and required three conservator.

The painting is a full panoramic of the event in the form of a map and chronology of the event. You can see Henry VIII depicted three times in the painting.

Watch the film to find out the work undertaken by the conservators - discoveries made and hidden details revealed by conservation and cleaning.