Aelst II, Pieter Van (D'Alost II, Pierre)

(ca. 1471-1532).

   Pieter van Aelst II, also known as Pieter van Aelst the Younger, was the eldest son of the celebrated tapestry weaver and merchant Pieter van Aelst. Born in Aalst, he completed his apprenticeship in his fa­ther's workshop and entered the business in his native town before leaving for Brussels, where he resided as of 1492. During the pro­longed absences of his father, he managed the business.

   In 1509, he was appointed to serve six months of the year as a "re­storer" of tapestries to Emperor Charles V, a post he shared with Jan Van der Brüggen.

   He worked in close collaboration with his father, and several works were begun under the aegis of the elder van Aelst and finished after his death by his son.

   Van Aelst crafted the celebrated series entitled Les Honneurs (The honors). Commissioned by Margaret of Austria in 1520 and designed by Bernard van Orley and others, the work featured nine large sections on which were displayed a complex iconography in vivid colors of scenes illustrating Fortune, Justice, Faith, and Nobility, among others.

   Van Aelst was the first weaver to execute tapestries depicting large-scale biblical scenes that entailed changes in the art of weaving, requiring greater attention to perspective, including the placement of figures in the foreground and employing great detail in reproducing antique costuming. Tapestries include 12 works depicting Scenes from the Life of Christ, commissioned by Pope Leo X. The series was completed in 1521 and final payment was received in 1532, the latter date marking the last known mention of van Aelst.