The Magna Carta in stitch

Magna CartaThe British artist, Cornelia Parker, has just unveiled her "portrait of our age", celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. 

The piece is not any ordinary painting however. It is an embroidered representation of the Magna Carta's Wikipedia entry as it appeared on the document's 799th birthday, and the work has been done by 200 selected people, from artists and musicians to campaigners, prisoners, lawyers and politicians. You can see the embroidery at the British Library in London until the 24th July. Hurrah for civil liberties!

(Image above is a detail from 'Magna Carta (An Embroidery)' by Cornelia Parker being hand stitched by Embroiderers' Guild member Anthea Godfrey Photograph by Joseph Turp.)