The Battle of Tunis

A monumental wall tapestry showing Charles V's campaign against the kingdom of Tunis, which had been occupied by the Ottomans in 1534. The tapestry was commissioned by archbishop Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, whose portrait is also on display in the museum. As a patron of the arts he had an impressive collection, which included many tapestries.

"Defender" of the Faith

In 1535, Charles V recaptured the occupied territory of Tunis from the Ottomans. His task force consisted of 400 ships and more than 30,000 soldiers. In the wake of his victory, Charles V ordered a series of twelve tapestries depicting the Battle of Tunis. It was designed to further emphasise his role as a defender of the Christian faith.

The series of tapestries was Charles V's the most expensive commission of artworks. The drawings were produced by court painter Jan Cornelisz, Vermeyen (ca. 1490 – 1559) and Pieter Coecke van Aelst (1502-1550). The tapestries were then woven in the Brussels workshop of Willem de Pannemaker (1512-1581). Vermeyen had accompanied the Emperor to North Africa and was therefore able to record the battle as an eyewitness.

The entire artistic project, from producing the initial drawings to weaving the tapestry, took a total of eight years (1546-1554). The Emperor would regularly make personal enquiries about the weavers' progress. He intended to exhibit the series during festivities and ceremonies. Today, ten of the original twelve tapestries are held in the Patrimonio Nacional in Madrid. The drawings can still be seen in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

Granvelle

Several (partial) copies of the Tunis series were made. This tapestry is one of them. It is based on two of the original drawings and depicts the conquest of La Goulette, the fortress guarding the port of Tunis.

It was commissioned by Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle (1517-1586), the first Archbishop of Mechelen. It was displayed in his palace in Mechelen, the Court of Savoy. His coat of arms is woven into the top of the tapestry. There was also a personal connection for Granvelle: his father, Nicholas, had taken part in the Tunis expedition.

The Tapestry in Detail

• Title: The Battle of Tunis
• Item name: tapestry
• Artist: Willem de Pannemaker (1512– 1581), after drawings by Jan Cornelisz. Vermeyen (ca. 1490 – 1559) and Pieter Coecke van Aelst (1502-1550)
• Date: 1565-1566
• Material: wool, silk
• Dimensions: 365 x 575 cm
• Inventory number: Tx0024
• Origin: in the possession of the French Cantades family (Maine-et-Loire) since the eighteenth century. Acquired by the city of Mechelen in 1957.