Tapestries
Tapestries
AFTER CARLO MARATTI (1625-1713)
A bearded head in a cap
c.1853-76Albumen print | 27.0 x 19.2 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 853266
A photograph of a drawing by Carlo Maratti now in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle (RCIN 904302). The drawing is a copy after the head of a figure appearing on the extreme right-hand side of the tapestry of 'The Adoration of the Magi', one from a twelve-piece set depicting scenes from the Life of Christ, traditionally known as the ‘Scuola Nuova’.
The ‘Scuola Nuova’ set was probably commissioned by Pope Leo X, but the project seems to have been reactivated by Clement VII after his election as pope in 1523. Apparently designed by Raphael’s former assistants after the death of the master (perhaps incorporating some models by Raphael himself), the tapestries were woven in the workshop of Pieter van Aelst and completed by 1531, when the set was delivered to Rome. Ruland (1876) seemed to accept the view that the ‘Scuola Nuova’ set was a gift to Leo X from Francis I on the occasion of the canonization of Francesco di Paola in 1519; this view has been recently rejected. For further discussion, see Bibliographic References.
The ‘Scuola Nuova’ set was probably commissioned by Pope Leo X, but the project seems to have been reactivated by Clement VII after his election as pope in 1523. Apparently designed by Raphael’s former assistants after the death of the master (perhaps incorporating some models by Raphael himself), the tapestries were woven in the workshop of Pieter van Aelst and completed by 1531, when the set was delivered to Rome. Ruland (1876) seemed to accept the view that the ‘Scuola Nuova’ set was a gift to Leo X from Francis I on the occasion of the canonization of Francesco di Paola in 1519; this view has been recently rejected. For further discussion, see Bibliographic References.
Creator(s)
After Carlo Maratti (1625-1713) (artist)
After a work by the workshop of Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (designer)
27.0 x 19.2 cm (sheet of paper)
Acquired for the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)
Subject(s)
- Religion & Theology
- Religions and faiths
- Christianity
- Life of Christ
- Infancy of Christ
- Adoration of the Magi
- Infancy of Christ
- Life of Christ
- Christianity
- Religions and faiths
- Religion & Theology
Bibliographic reference(s)
no. 458 (B(R) : Blunt, A.F. & Cooke, H.L., 1960. The Roman Drawings of the XVII and XVIII Centuries in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen at Windsor Castle, London)
pp.236-41 (Tapestry in the Renaissance 2002 : Tapestry in the Renaissance. Art and Magnificence, ed. Thomas P. Campbell, The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2002)
