Solebay Tapestry restoration works
In a bid to save the iconic Solebay Tapestry, Royal Museums Greenwich has begun a conservation project for the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Solebay
Part of a series of tapestries to mark the 1672 Battle of Solebay, The Burning of the Royal James depicts the dramatic climax of the naval engagement between the English and the Dutch in what became the first battle of the Third Anglo-dutch War. It is the only remaining Solebay Tapestry in the collection of the Queen’s House, Greenwich – belonging to the National Maritime Museum of the Royal Museums Greenwich – and was designed by the father and son team Willem Van de Velde the Elder and Younger around 350 years ago.
However, in the centuries since its creation, fading dyes and light damage to the silk and wool have muted its once vibrant colours, obscured the fine craftsmanship showcased in its details and fundamentally resulted in its structural instability.
This is set to change following the announcement of a significant conservation project to restore it to its former glory.
Royal Museums Greenwich has successfully launched a crowdfunding campaign through Art Happens with Art Fund to raise money towards saving The Burning of the Royal James. With the first phase of restoration having been completed in 2021, which involved an intricate cleaning process to assess the damage, the donations will support the vital work required in preserving the Solebay Tapestry while protecting it from further deterioration. By February 2023, it is hoped that the piece will return to the Queen’s House for an exhibition celebrating three-and-a-half centuries since the Van de Veldes’ arrival in England.
For more information: artfund.org./save-solebay