The Solebay tapestry returns to the Queen's House

Thanks to your generous support, the Solebay tapestry has undergone extensive conservation. The tapestry now forms the centrepiece of a new London art exhibition, The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea.

Open now at the Queen’s House, this free show explores the life and work of the Dutch artists Willem van de Velde the Elder and his son Willem van de Velde the Younger.

Click here to watch the moment the Solebay tapestry was installed in the Queen’s House

Due to its age, size and high silk content, the 17th century tapestry was incredibly weak. To prepare it for display, the maritime masterpiece needed specialist treatment at Zenzie Tinker Conservation, a leading conservation studio in Brighton.

“I think we're up to nearly 4,000 hours of work, so it's been a long process,” explains textile conservator Zenzie Tinker. “It does feel like a real privilege to have been part of bringing the tapestry back to life.”

Click here to read more about the tapestry's conservation process

The Van de Veldes were regarded as the leading marine artists of the 17th century. King Charles II took a particular interest in the father-son duo and offered them an annual salary and a studio at the Queen's House in Greenwich.

Here, the Van de Veldes created magnificent paintings, detailed sketches - and the designs for the Solebay tapestry.

The tapestry was based on eyewitness drawings made by Van de Velde the Elder at the Battle of Solebay, an inconclusive naval conflict between a Dutch fleet and a combined force of English and French ships that took place in May 1672.

The Solebay tapestry is part of a series of giant tapestries that depict the course of the conflict.

Click here to find out more about the Van de Veldes

Because of your generous support, this monumental artwork has been conserved for future generations.

“Bringing the tapestry back to the space where it was designed is really exciting for us,” says Imogen Tedbury, Curator of Art (pre-1800) at Royal Museums Greenwich.

The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea is open at the Queen's House until 14 January 2024

rmg.co.uk/vandeveldes