The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the Virgin Mary (The Pentecost)

A print reproducing the composition of the tapestry of ‘The Pentecost’, one from a twelve-piece set depicting scenes from the Life of Christ, traditionally known as the ‘Scuola Nuova’ (eleven of which survive today in the Vatican Museums). Trimmed to image on all sides.

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 traditional 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. For further discussion, see Bibliographic References.