Raphael's Tapestries in the Sistine Chapel
Raphael and Michelangelo meet face to face in the Word's most famous Chapel
Sala Regia in the Vatican Apostolic Palace
The press conference to announce the exhibition "Raphael cartoons and tapestries for the Sistine Chapel" was held in the Sala Regia in the Vatican Apostolic Palace Wednesday 14 July 2010. The exhibition, to be held in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (8 September - 17 October 2010), in collaboration with the Vatican Museums, coincides with the historic visit by HH Pope Benedict XVI to England and Scotland.
Following the press conference visitors were invited to enjoy the privilege, for one evening only, of admiring Raphael's tapestries displayed in their original sixteenth century location.
The set of four tapestries and two friezes woven in Brussels, at the workshops of Pieter van Aelst, and the preparatory Cartoons, designed by Raphael (on permanent display in the V&A), will be reunited for the first time ever in a unique exhibition, thanks to the joint collaboration between the V&A and the Vatican Museums. The exhibition opens to the public 8 September 2010 at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The tapestries depict the Acts of St. Peter and St. Paul and are on permanent display in the Vatican Pinacoteca. They were commissioned by Pope Leo X, following his desires to place alongside the frescoes depicting scenes from the Old Testament and life of Jesus, created by Michelangelo and other fifteenth century artists, scenes from the Acts of the Apostles, in order to further embellish the Sistine Chapel on the occasion of ceremonies of great solemnity. In 1519 the tapestries designed by Raphael were displayed for the first time in the Sistine Chapel, causing amazement and admiration among those who saw them.
The Director of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci, commented: "Five centuries have gone by, but their impact has remained unchanged. Together with the "Stanze" and "Loggia", together with Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, the tapestries are placed at the height of the period that manuals call Renaissance. [...] This is a worthy tribute to the historic visit by HH Pope Benedict XVI to Great Britain on the 16th of September".