Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Raphael (1483-1520) chose scenes from the Acts of the Apostles—particularly of
Peter and Paul, the two early saints most associated with Rome, the seat of the popes.
Knowing where the tapestries were to be hung, Raphael was determined to top Michelan-
gelo's famous Sistine ceiling, with its huge, dramatic figures and subtle color effects. He
matched Michelangelo's body-builder muscles (for example, the fishermen in
The Mira-
culous Draught of Fishes
), dramatic gestures, and reaction shots (as in the busy crowd
scenes in
St. Paul Preaching in Athens
), and he exceeded Michelangelo in the subtleties
of color.
Unfortunately, it was difficult to reproduce Raphael's painted nuances in the tapestry
workshop. Traditional tapestries were simple, depicting either set patterns or block figures
on a neutral background. Raphael challenged the Flemish weavers. Each brushstroke had
to be reproduced by a colored thread woven horizontally. The finished tapestries (which
are still in the Vatican) were glorious, but these cartoons capture Raphael's original vision.
• From the Raphael room (48a), go up the staircase. At the top of the stairs (on level 2),
turn left into Room 57. This is the heart of the British Galleries, featuring the Great Bed
of Ware and Elizabethan miniatures.
