Unique tapestry from 1530 brought back from London to Brussels

The Brussels City Museum on the Grand Place is showcasing an extraordinary tapestry from 1530 depicting King Solomon inviting his mother Bathsheba to share the throne. The tapestry previously graced the walls of the House of Lords in London, but the piece has now been brought back to the city where it was made.

The City of Brussels, the King Baudouin Foundation, the Fondation Périer-D’Ieteren, and the non-profit organisation De Wit have gathered the necessary financial means to bring this remarkable work of art to the Brussels City Museum.

The tapestry is part of a series of tapestries, now dispersed, composed of six scenes from the life of Bathsheba. While the first three parts tell the story of David and his wife Bathsheba, the last three depict that of Solomon and his mother Bathsheba. It’s rare to see the life of Bathsheba combined with those of David and Solomon in the same series of tapestries. No other similar series is known to date.

“The tapestry of Solomon and Bathsheba returns to the neighborhood where it was conceived nearly 500 years ago, offering everyone the opportunity to admire it,” the King Baudouin Foundation said in a press release. “The work not only showcases Brussels' craftsmanship but also highlights the importance of tapestry production in the city's development.”

The exceptional tapestry, which previously adorned the walls of the House of Lords in London, belonged to Lord Rochdale. It was acquired at the TEFAF 2024 art fair in Maastricht. It will be on display for two years, after which, for preventive conservation reasons, it will be put in reserve before being exhibited again.

^{The installation of a tapestry dating from 1530 at the Brussels City Museum © BELGA PHOTO EVE-ANNE HKS}