with biblical scene, Brussels (Netherlands), second half of the 16th century, c. 358 x 390 cm, attributed to Frans Geubels. Weaving of wool and silk, shortened by c. 90 cm in the upper section. The scene depicts “Samson slaying the Philistines” (Ri 15,15) from the stories of Samson, in the background scenes of fighting from the Battle of Lehi. Borders with exceptionally beautiful animal and fruit décor. Frans and Jacob Geubels. The work of the extremely productive and renowned weaver Frans Geubels (d. after 1571) was described in detail by Eric Duverger in 1961. The stories of Samson narrated in the Book of Judges inspired a whole series of tapestries in this workshop. The series originally consisted of twelve tapestries and two portières. Three tapestries from the first series, signed by Geubels, are preserved at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, whilst another complete set is displayed in the collections of the Staatliche Museen in Berlin. All these series attributed to Frans Geubels differ from each other on the grounds of their border; only the version currently preserved in the Cathedral of Burgos presents some divergences from the design. Duverger also suggests the hypothesis that another complete set was probably woven by Frans’ son, Jacob Geubels (d. 1605), with yet another slightly different design. Also noteworthy in Frans’ ouevre are the tapestry series inspired by the story of King Solomon (collection of the Bayerische Staatsverwaltung) and by the story of Saul (cathedral of Cuenca, Spain). Several repairs due to age, now in good condition. Secured with jute fabric on the reverse and mounted for hanging. (MA) Lit.: Eric Duverger, De Bloeitijd van de Vlaamse Tapijtkunst, Internationales Kolloquium, Brussels, 1969, pp. 91-204, p. 137 fig. 11 P. Junquera "Los Tapices de la Catedral de Cuenca" Archivio Espanol de Arte, Madrid, 1974, Feigen 1 -. 6).