A TAPESTRY, tapestry weave, 350,5 x 372,5 cm, signed Brussels-Brabant, Flanders, mid-16th Century.
"God appears to Abraham (and reveals the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah)". From the set with the "Story of Abraham". Cartoons attributed to Pieter Coecke van Aelst (1502-1550).
A large polychrome scene with figures, Abraham and other persons in a landscape. A wide border with flowers and fruits as well as a cartouche with the text: Apparverunt.Abraham.Virtres.Occurre.
Illes.Adoravit.Surrexunt.Versus.Sodomam. Wool and silk. Lined.
Slightly reduced. Wear, slightly dirty, minor stains, damages and tears, rewoven areas, repaired.
Literature
Elisabeth CLELAND, "Grand design: Pieter Coecke van Aelst and Renaissance tapestry", (exh. cat.) New York, 2014, pp. 234-253.
More information
The editio princeps, counting 10 tapestries woven in wool, silk and plenty of metal thread, may have been commissioned by King Henry VIII and was delivered in London by 1544 (nowadays at Hampton Court Palace).
Many monarchs and statesmen across Europe followed this example by commissioning further editions with leading Brussels' weavers, as they considered Abraham one of the exemplary Old Testament Patriarchs - perfectly adequate to reflect their personal power.
Up to ten editions of this fabled set survive (partly). Most of these editions date from the mid 16th century and none of these documented tapestry sets carry a rich flower border similar to the present example. Please note that this piece underwent alterations (size) and presents therefore difficulties for further comparison.
https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/1046/the-story-of-abraham-series