Brussels Tapestries - The Finding of Moses and The Battle of the Amalekites
Workshop of Frans and Pieter van der Borcht, Brussels, mid 18th century.
The subjects of these two tapestries are taken from the Life of Moses, one of the central biblical figures from
the Old Testament.
The first tapestry (top) illustrates The Finding of Moses. The baby Moses is found in a rush basket on the banks of
the Nile by the Pharaoh's daughter who is bathing with her maidens. She recognises him as the child of the
Hebrews, a people kept in slavery by her father, but takes pity on him and decides to bring him up, naming him
Moses "Because I drew him out of the water."
The second scene (bottom) depicts The Battle of the Israelites and the Amalekites that took place during the Exodus from
Egypt when Moses led his people under guidance from God towards a Promised Land. Moses can be seen in the top
left corner bearing his hands aloft with the assistance of his sons Aaron and Hur. He understood that this act
of devotion would enable the Israelites to prevail in the battle.
When the tapestries were manufactured, originally up to eight or nine different scenes could be ordered from the
workshops of the weavers, the van der Borchts in Brussels, either separately or as a complete series. The cartoons
were probably designed by Jan van Orley (1665 - 1735) (figures) and Augustin Coppens (1668 - 1740) (landscapes).
The tapestries are said to have been the gift of the Prince of Wales, later George IV, to the elderly Viscountess
Irwin and her daughter Lady Hertford on his visit to Temple Newsam in 1806. Removed from Temple Newsam by Lord
Halifax in 1922, they were bought back for the house at the sale of Stackallan House, Co Meath, in October 1992.
On to next piece
Back to list
