THE CARTOONS FOR THE TAPESTRIES OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL

Raphael painted the cartoons for the tapestries of the Sistine Chapel in the years 1515-16.

These tapestries, wanted by Pope Leo X, were going to complete the decoration of the Sistine Chapel, where in the bottom end were painted false curtains. The tapestries, of various sizes, the largest measuring 390x520 cm, were woven in Brussels and were exposed in the most solemn occasions.

The tapestries

The cartoons painted by Raphael were 10, of these 3 were lost, while the other 7 are preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and represent:

the miraculous fishing		the delivery of the keys		the punishment of Elymas		the sacrifice of Lystra
	the healing of the lame		the sermon of St. Paul		the death of Anania

The stoning of St. Stephen, the conversion of St Paul and Paul in prison were lost, while the tapestries exposed in the Sistine Chapel are 10, as 10 were Raphael's cartoons.

Note that in the transition from cartoon to tapestry weaving, for technical reasons, the images are rotated by 180 degrees.

Delivery of the keys cartoon

Delivery of the keys tapestry

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