Pageant Wagons in Brussels

This painting shows a procession (ommegang) of pageant wagons in Brussels in 1615. Annual processions similar to this took place all over Europe, and had done since at least the 14th century. In earlier processions, all the wagons were based around religious themes. In England, Bible stories were presented as short plays, numerous wagons taking a section each, until religious drama was suppressed during the Commonwealth. The Brussels procession was a series of tableaux with the performers all holding a pose. By the time this painting was made in the Renaissance period, the procession also included secular scenes of famous people from life and literature well as the religious elements.

Among the performers are three black figures suggesting that there was a black community in Brussels at the time. There is a man riding a camel at the bottom left of the painting, a drummer behind the nativity and a servant holding the umbrella of feathers over ‘King Psapho’ in the cart behind the camels.

Created: Around 1615