The sacrifice of Lystra - Lot 321

The sacrifice of Lystra Exceptional tapestry panel from the Antwerp workshop of the heirs of Master weaver Balthazar van Vierden (1475- 1525) of Brussels. This tapestry belongs to the illustrious series of ten-panel hangings created by the painter Raffaelo Sansio (1483-1520), better known as Raphael; the cartoons for this hanging were commissioned by Pope Leo X for the Sistine Chapel. The particularity of our panel is that it is in basse lisse, made in the XVII® century, in all likelihood after colors chosen by Giulio Romano (1499-1546), better known as Julius Romano, after the original work of Raphael, his Master. Wool and silk; Height: 366 cm; Width: 517 cm. 17th century Attached border Old restorations, natural wear and oxidation, scratches. Provenance: M. Igor Bogdanoff Collection Iconographic analysis: Our panel features a rare originality, namely that it reproduces among the crowd the faces of all the great artists of the period during which Raphael's cartoons were drawn. we see the face of Leonardo De VINCI, or Raphael's collaborators, such as Michelangelo, Julius Romano, Thomas Vincidor Bernard van Orley,or even the faces of Pope Leo X and Raphael himself. Historical references: Seven of the tapestry cartoons for the Sistine Chapel still survive (London, Victoria & Albert Museum). Ten cartoons were entrusted to Pierre van Aelst: - The Miraculous Peach - The Vocation of Saint Peter - The Healing of the Paralytic - The Death of Anamie - The stoning of St. Stephen - The conversion of Saint Paul - Elymas struck blind - The sacrifice of Lystra - (our panel) - Saint Paul in prison or the earthquake - Saint Paul at the Areopagus Technical features: there is a tapestry addition on the top of Saint Paul's toga, materialized by the presence of a "phylactery" whose shape follows the movement of the garment. It is inscribed in Latin: "OMNIBUS DICI(TE)", which could be translated as: "TELL EVERYONE". This kind of addition was still common at the beginning of the XVII® century. Even Margueritte of Austria used it on her splendid tapestries. This suite of tapestries was loomed fifty-five times, including at the Manufacture de Beauvais under the direction of Philippe BEHAGLE, commissioned in 1665 by Louis XIV. This hanging was part of the treasury of Beauvais Cathedral (Oise) in France.