Tapestries
Tapestries
MICHEL CORNEILLE (ORLÉANS 1602-PARIS 1664)
The Massacre of the Innocents
c.1622-1644Etching | 49.2 x 27.6 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 853230
A print reproducing, in reverse, one of the three panels forming the tapestry of 'The Massacre of the Innocents', from a twelve-piece set depicting scenes from the Life of Christ traditionally known as ‘Scuola Nuova’ (eleven of which survive today in the Vatican Museums). Lettered with attribution of the design to Raphael, publisher's address and line in Latin. With pencil annotations.
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 Brussels 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 Brussels 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)
Michel Corneille (Orléans 1602-Paris 1664) (etcher)
After Giulio Romano (Rome c. 1499-Mantua 1546) (designer)
Nicolo Billy : Vicino al Pasquino, Rome (publisher)
203 a
a
49.2 x 27.6 cm (sheet of paper)
Innocentes pro Christo Infantes occisi sunt
Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (after 1876)
Subject(s)
- Religion & Theology
- Religions and faiths
- Christianity
- Bible & Holy Scripture
- Christianity
- Religions and faiths
- Religion & Theology
Bibliographic reference(s)
p.139, no.I.1 (entry by Simonetta Prosperi Valenti Rodinò) (Raphael Invenit 1985 : Bernini Pezzini, G. et al., 1985. Raphael Invenit. Stampe di Raffaello nelle Collezioni dell'Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica, Rome)
p.501, no.H 14.2 (Höper 2001 : Höper, C. Raffael und die Folgen, Hatje Cantz Verlag, 2001)
