Christ's Charge to Peter
The Sacrifice at Lystra
The Healing of the Lame Man
Leo X – a pope of pre-eminent virtue and amplitude – was said to have founded after many centuries an age of gold. — Paolo Giovio, 1551
When Pope Benedict XVI visited England last month he came bearing a gift, well at least a loan. He brought with him the Sistine Tapestries by Raphael.
Commissioned almost 500 years ago by the Medici Pope Leo X for the Sistine Chapel and currently on display at the V&A in London, this is the first time the tapestries have been reunited with the original cartoons.
The tapestries are breathtaking. Amazing detail. For example The Miraculous Draft of Fishes shows in the distance a small town and small figures can be seen watching the scene from the shore.
The tapestries and cartoons are an example of High Renaissance Art. Michelangelo did the ceiling, Raphael the tapestries. The tapestries were woven at the workshops of Pieter van Aelst in Brussels, the centre for tapestry weaving in Europe. The tapestries are woven from threads of wool, silk, silver and gold.
The tapestries depicts Acts by St Peter and St Paul.
The Miraculous Draft of Fishes
Christ Charge to Peter
The Sacrifice of Lystra
The Healing of the Lame Man
I have never been to the V&A before. When I was younger I used to visit the other nearby museums, but never the V&A.
I had hoped to visit with my lovely friend Sian, but sadly she is poorly. I have booked two tickets for next week. Hopefully she will be well enough to visit next week.
Also see
Raphael: Cartoons and Tapestries for the Sistine Chapel
Raphael: Cartoons and Tapestries for the Sistine Chapel
Raphael’s Sistine tapestries: the weavers’ cut
Raphael’s Sistine tapestries at the V&A
Tags: Acts of St Peter and St Paul, Acts of the Apostles, art, Christianity, Pope Benedict XVI, Raphael, religion, Sistine Tapestries, St Paul, St Peter, V&A, Vatican
Keithpp's Blog 
October 23, 2010 at 5:36 am |
Each one larger than a double-decker bus! WOW, thinking about how it feels to stand right there in the presence of (feeling the energy)!!!!! Beautiful workmanship, great photos Keith; telling stories through pictures. Enjoyed SO much, thankyou : D
October 23, 2010 at 10:18 pm |
I have been to see them twice and it was an experience of a lifetime. I thought they would impress me less the second time, but quite the contrary, I was more impressed. The second time I focussed on the detail. I am only saddened that my happiness at seeing them could not have been shared with my lovely friend Sian. I cannot claim the credit for the photos, I scanned postcards from the V&A. Understandably, no photos were allowed.