British Museum hosted Peter Thiel in private viewing of Bayeux tapestry

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/aug/31/british-museum-hosted-palantir-founder-peter-thiel-private-viewing-bayeux-tapestry

20•tomwphillips•1h ago

Comments

novia•36m ago

> Thiel is not a donor to the museum and no money has been received via him or his businesses.

Yet? Seems like a pretty good way to get him to start donating?

I kinda hate this article. Yes, wealthy and powerful individuals will get special treatment over the general public. No, people who require a shit ton of private security will not be entering with the general public to see your cool tapestry, sorry to say.

jstanley•33m ago

It's fine, of course, but unwillingness to view with the general public should not constitute grounds for a private viewing.

I don't like the general public either, can I have a private viewing?

Integer•29m ago

Sure, here's the link to the page to do so: https://www.britishmuseum.org/commercial/venue-hire

gambiting•25m ago

And can you book a private viewing of the bayoux tapestry on the ground of "I don't like the public" or are you just being flippant linking the general venue hire page.

gambiting•29m ago

...so what's the benefit of letting him see it in a private viewing?

>>No, people who require a shit ton of private security will not be entering with the general public to see your cool tapestry, sorry to say.

Then...they don't have to see it? Like if Beyonce wanted to come in with her 20 bodyguards, should she be given an exclusive VIP viewing just because?

Like, the entire point this article tried to convey(and which I guess you missed), is that this artifact has a limited number of hours it can be displayed for, because every lux hour damages it further. It's not like opening the Louvre at night so you can come in and look at the mona Lisa for a few hours without the public. Him seeing it for an hour means it can be displayed for an hour less.

In general I'm just like....why. Why him. If he at least made a significant donation to the museum....we could argue that the financial benefit is worth it. Right now it begs the question - is it just a favour from someone to him? Like what's going on? That's exactly what journalism should be focusing on.

novia•8m ago

I did not miss that. I still see nothing amiss here.

scrumper•28m ago

I doubt it was just him, there'll have been a group. I am not surprised that some VIPs got given access. It's quite common for museums to do such things after hours.

This is strange language in the article, even for the Graun:

> and only limited viewings of the tapestry have been possible across a range of stakeholders

Weird, nonsensical corpospeak, copied from some PR drone's email perhaps.

I saw the tapestry on an exchange trip to France in the '90s. It's a deeply impressive thing, even for a teenager vastly more interested in flirting with the French girls hosting us than medieval art. Perhaps its grandeur will inspire a glimmer of humanity in the creature.

nephihaha•21m ago

"Stakeholder" is a dogwhistle term.

ajay-b•22m ago

I live in Washington, DC and VIPs routinely view exhibits after-hours, in private; many years ago I arranged such an occasion. I think it depends on the situation and what is best for the museum and the exhibit. This article seems to be making much to do about nothing, or in some way wants something negative to print about Thiel.

downrightmike•20m ago

I think there is a more important why he would want to see that particiular piece: The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth nearly 70 metres long and 50 centimetres tall that depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, led by William, Duke of Normandy, challenging Harold II, King of England, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings. It is thought to date to the 11th century, within a few years of the battle. Now widely accepted to have been made in England, perhaps as a gift for William, it tells the story from the point of view of the conquering Normans and for centuries has been preserved in Bayeux, Normandy,

220hertz•7m ago

I saw it last year. It was fascinating. But, I mean, it was behind glass in a dark corridor-type room. We were not allowed to take photos of it.

I liked the town quite a bit too. Some great food and drink, I love how seedy the bar/tabacs feel there. Their Notre Dame is lovely.

As much as I'm no fan of Thiel, it is an artifact worth preserving. Thiel hopefully donates and that's the last we ever think about this.

Symbiote•10m ago

The amount of time its on display is limited due to damage from light.

He's not a major donor to the museum, so why did he get special treatment?

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