Raphael Gold & Silk

Omschrijving

In 1515, Pope Leo X commissioned the Italian

painter Raffaello Sanzio (1483–1520), now

generally known as Raphael in English, to make

the cartoons for a series of ten tapestries with

scenes from the lives of Saints Peter and Paul.

This commission played an instrumental part

in the stylistic development of the Flemish

tapestries, a marvellous illustration of princely

splendour in the sixteenth century. Under

Habsburg rule, Brussels soon emerged as a

leading manufactory for exquisite products.

Raphael’s designs are among the most successful

series in the history of tapestry production.

This publication highlights the tremendous

wealth of these tapestries in intricate detail.

It accompanies a collection exhibition of the

Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, home

tothe former imperial tapestry collection,

from 26 September 2023 to 14 January 2024.