Matador Jacket

I noticed this jacket hanging over a chair in the shop of an antiques dealer in Burford – now long gone. It was actually a complete outfit including the breeches which were showing signs of a goring by the bull. I wonder how it all came from Spain to England…?

The dealer very kindly lent me the jacket and I worked on a paper representation for about three months. I had to enjoy every bit of detail – it was such an opportunity to get to know one of these very special ceremonial garments.

All the embroidery is made of paper string split lengthways and rolled. The background graphics are from a poster bought from a specialist poster shop very close to the cathedral in Seville.