The story of Moses and Zipporah - Tapestry, Brussels Manufacture, 17th century

The Biblical Story: Moses and the Family of Midian
The story woven here transports us to the Book of Exodus, during Moses' time of exile.

After fleeing Egypt, Moses finds refuge in the desert of Midian. There he meets Zipporah, the daughter of the priest Jethro. The tapestry illustrates a peaceful moment in their family life: Zipporah presents their firstborn son, Gershom, to her husband.

This moment is imbued with profound symbolism. Moses, once a prince of Egypt, has become a humble shepherd. The staff he holds is still merely a tool for tending flocks, but it will soon become the instrument of divine miracles before Pharaoh. This scene captures a man poised between two destinies: the serene family man and the future liberator of the Hebrew people. It celebrates the values ??of lineage, protection, and silent preparation before the call of the Burning Bush.

This monumental 17th-century tapestry belongs to the grand tradition of Baroque decoration, where rich detail meets powerful storytelling. The composition is rigorously structured around a visual dialogue between two central figures.

On the left, a noble female figure, dressed in brocades and artfully arranged draperies, carries a young child with maternal grace. She presents the child to a man on the right, whose athletic build and muscular legs recall the influence of the Flemish masters. This man, seated on a distinctively shaped shepherd's crook, seems to receive this presentation with solemn attention.

The surrounding setting, a rolling landscape bathed in soft light, reinforces the pastoral atmosphere. The whole is magnified by an exceptionally rich border: an architectural frame adorned with garlands of fruit, putti holding cornucopias, and, at the top, a medallion bearing a laureate bust in the antique style. This border transforms the scene into a window onto a heroic past, marking the work's belonging to a series of great prestige.

This magnificent tapestry has undergone a thorough cleaning, hand-lined with 100% linen fabric, and meticulous inspection by our experts in our workshop. It is now ready to grace your home.