The Tapestries of the King’s Hall

Two tapestries, i.e. wall textiles, are hung side by side on the wall of the King’s Hall. They were commissioned by Pehr Fredric von Rettig, a Finnish Counsellor of Commerce, between 1898 and 1900. The textiles are copies of the tapestries currently located in the Royal Palace of Stockholm, Sweden, which adorned the walls of Turku Castle during the time of Duke John. They were part of a series of eight tapestries depicting the stages of King Hezekiah of Judah. Duke John's elder brother King Erik XIV bought the tapestries in Antwerp in 1560, and soon after they were turned over to Duke John in Turku.