A 17th century tapestry panel

Northern Netherlands, circa 1630-1650.

Worked in silk and wool with a depiction of the meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek after Abraham’s defeat of Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; the subject taken from chapter 14 of the Book of Genesis.

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

This panel would have been one of a set of tapestries woven to represent scenes from the life of Abraham. Two of these tapestries were included in the exhibition Dutch Tapestry in the Golden Age 1590-1650, held at Franses, New York, from 19th October to 14th December 2007. These are described and illustrated as no. 11 in the accompanying catalogue (publ. S. Franses, London 2007, pp. 66-67), where another of the set, held in a private collection, is also illustrated. A further panel, Abraham and Sarah Receiving the Three Angels, appeared on the London market several years ago, framed in the same manner.

With restorations and areas of reweaving.

Provenance: The Estate of The Right Honourable The Lord Lawson of Blaby, P.C.

The textile 58.3cm (23”) high and 110.6cm (43½”) wide.

Framed size 63.5cm (25”) high and 115.9cm (45⅝”) wide.