Introduction
On behalf of Key Rome I would like to welcome you to the Sistine Chapel.
My name is Marc Manser, and let me be your guide just for a few moments here in the Sistine
Chapel this evening. At a distance of some five hundred years,
the breathtaking ceiling of Michelangelo still dominates this splendid church and much of
the art world.
Yet, we are here today, to not explore this glorious interpretation of Genesis. Instead,
we have the once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the masterpieces of perhaps
his most viable competitor, the painter Raphael. The artwork in question are seven glorious
tapestries, commissioned by Pope Leo X for this very church.
These elaborate wall hangings tell the stories of St. Peter and St. Paul, and decorated the
church on the most solemn occasions, but have not been on display here since Raphael's 500th
birthday in 1983.
Tapestry explanation
"I am the director of the Vatican Museums. Here we are inside the Vatican Museums.
Today we are allowing for four tapestries, signed by Raffaello for this place, for the
Capella Sistina, to be displayed in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum, because
the Victoria and Albert Museum has in its property the original cartoons from which
the tapestries by Raffaello were made."
"A large design drawing was called a cartone. We can see that the cartoons seem to be in
large part by Raphael, and I think you have to imagine him the design drawing and his
very expert assistants - he would sort of, they would take the drawing, they would enlarge
it, and then you can imagine Raphael painting a head say, and then coming back saying 'No,
no, don't do it like that, do it like this!' you know. And because he was such an extraordinary
draftsman and painter, such a fluent artist, I mean, some of these heads have immense vigor"
The tapestries' colorful wool and silk, and their gold and silver highlights, strike the
viewer still today. They were woven in the famed workshop of Peter van Aelst’s, in
Brussels.
Here, expert weavers divided Raphael's cartoons into strips, which they slid into the loom,
following his drawings perfectly through the threads.
As the weaving was done from the back, the resulting image became the reverse of the
original.
Conclusion
To
truly appreciate the tapestries' beauty and magical woven effects, Key Rome suggests you
experience the exhibition yourself.
We hope to run into you at the show in London, which runs from September 8th to October 17th
at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Once you have enjoyed the exhibition, we hope you will share your thoughts and comments
on our website.
On your next visit to the Eternal City, we hope you will join us for a group or private
tour and explore more of Sistine Chapel, the Vatican, and the glories that are Rome.
"Your exhibition will be a splendid occasion
and will be absolutely unforgettable. This is my opinion and I'm very proud of this splendid
occasion."