UK to expose Raphael tapestries for first time

Four tapestries designed by Raphael for the Sistine Chapel will go on display in the UK for the first time, to coincide with the Pope's visit.

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London will exhibit the prized works alongside the original designs, uniting them after almost 500 years.

It marks the first time the tapestries and designs have gone on show together and something that the High Renaissance artist never witnessed himself.

The Raphael Cartoons, the full-sized original designs for the tapestries, have been on display at the V&A since 1865.

Mark Jones, director of the V&A, said: "This is a marvellous opportunity to see great Renaissance masterpieces reunited for the first time in almost 500 years.

"We are very happy to show these important works in our Raphael Gallery."

The exhibition will take place over a six-week period from September to coincide with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI.

The tapestries are owned by the Vatican Museums, while the cartoons belong to the Queen.

The seven cartoons were given on long-term loan to the V&A by Queen Victoria and have become "too fragile" to leave the museum building.

The tapestries, of the Acts of St Peter and St Paul: The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, Christ's Charge to Peter, The Healing of the Lame Man, and The Sacrifice at Lystra, were made for the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City almost 500 years ago.

Raphael was commissioned by Pope Leo X to design the works, which were woven in Brussels and sent to Rome for display.

The cartoons remained in Brussels and Raphael never saw them beside the tapestries woven from them. European monarchs, including Henry VIII, commissioned copies which were woven from the cartoons in Brussels.

In 1623 Charles I, while Prince of Wales, had the cartoons brought to England to have his own set woven and they have remained in the country ever since.

The weavers cut Raphael's cartoons into strips and copied them closely, weaving each tapestry from the back.

The front image was therefore the reverse of its cartoon.

The painted strips of cartoon were later joined together and became precious in their own right.

Tickets to the exhibition are free but timed tickets will be in operation and advance booking is strongly recommended.

They will be available from July 1 and people can visit www.vam.ac.uk from this date for more information.

Raphael: Cartoons and Tapestries for the Sistine Chapel will run from September 8 to October 17.