Two tapestries to be restored in Antwerp

Two 300 year old Tapestries from St. John Co-Cathedral will be freighted to Belgium to be displayed at an exhibition of Rubens Textiles organised by the City of Antwerp at the historic "Hessenhius".

The exhibition which will be held between 27 June and 5 October will commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Rubens House as a museum. It will throw light on Rubens as a trendsetter and will show textiles inspired by his works.

The two tapestries being loaned to Antwerp are the "Annunciation" and the "Nativity", both inspired by two famous Rubens paintings. The "Annunciation" tapestry will in fact be exhibited along the very large original painting of the Annunciation by Rubens.

The two tapestries are being flown to Belgium well ahead of the opening of the exhibition as the Government have made arrangements with the organisers for restoration and conservation work to be undertaken on the tapestries before they are put on display.

All costs connected with the loan of the tapestries and most of the restoration cost will be borne by the organisers.

Restoration and conservation work on the loaned tapestries will be undertaken by "The Royal Manufacturers de Wit" of Mechelen, Belgium.

In making these arrangements which are in line with Government's policy of preserving the national heritage, the Ministry of Education and National Culture and its Museum Department has had the full collaboration of the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter and St. John's Co-Cathedral Museum.