Today these tapestries are kept in the vaults of the Vatican Museums, not visible to the public.
Similar tapestries can be seen in the climate-controlled Gallery of Tapestries in the Vatican Museums as well as in the nearby Pinacoteca "picture gallery" of the Musuems.
Along the walls of the Gallery of Tapestries are similar creations. On the left wall are from the Scuola Nuova or The Life of Christ, woven between 1524 and 1531 in the workshop in Brussels, Belgium of Pieter van Aelst. The original designs were by the school of Raphael.
This series originally consisted of twelve tapestries, nine of which are displayed in this gallery. They are divided into two groups of six. The first group is dedicated to the childhood of Christ. The second to episodes following the crucifixion of Christ.
On the right wall are similar tapestries woven between 1663 and 1679, depicting scenes from the life of Pope Urban VIII. This series was the last major work carried out by what was known as the Barberini tapestry workshops. Cardinal Francesco Barberini, nephew of Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barbarini, 1623 - 1644), established in Rome in 1627.
These were commissioned by the Cardinal himself in honor of the memory of his uncle, who had passed away in 1644. Teh main subject centers on the election of the Pontiff and his generous works, giving honor and further prestige to the reign of Urban VIII Barberini.
Below are a selection of images that display the color and pageantry of some of these stunning backdrops, genuine works of art and true masterpieces. Most came from Flanders, woven in gold and silk, of the same quality and perfection, created to resemble baroque paintings.
One example is the tapestry that was the background for the papal throne for the consistory of new cardinals. It was called "The Three Virtues," also known affectionately as "the Lions." It is considered by many as part of a series on the life of Christ. The three virtues depicted are "Religion," seated in the center in light and glory, with her feet on the world. On her right is "Justice," holding high a scale and on her left is "Charity," nursing a child who is not her own. Two crouching lions, an illusion to Pope Leo X (1475-1521), support papal standards that depict two crossed keys under the shadow of a baldachin.
The beloved tapestry is 5.11 meters high, including the friezes (decorated borders) that constitute its woven frame on three sides (there is no border on the top because when displayed in public, a canopy was set at the top). This beautiful frame was in grayish mezzotinit, overloaded with decorations and shades of light and dark. This woven frame alone is precious, and richer than any other work of the same school.
The frieze frames are 80 cm wide. At the top in the border on either side can be seen the coat-of-arms of Pope Clement VII (1478-1534), the same pope who hired Michelangelo to paint the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel. In the middle of the lower horizontal frieze is a falcon.
In his life of Raphael, the art historian Vasari wrote:
"Pope Leo X, wishing to have most rich tapestries made of gold and silk, got Raphael himself to paint the colored cartoons of the right shape and size. These were sent to Flanders to be woven, and, when finished, the tapestries came to Rome."
Ten of these tapestries were made, depicting various epic scenes from the lives of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, mostly taken from stories illustrated in the Acts of the Apostles. These were intended to complete the decorating of the Sistine Chapel, which already had similar tapestries to adorn its walls scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
Over the centuries these tapestries have been lovingly repaired by nuns in the Vatican. Although they are no longer used in a liturgical context, some of us hope and pray they will be returned to the divine cult, as in years past to adorn papal liturgies.
