Open restoration of the tapestries in the Ducale di Mantova made to Raphael's cartoons begun

On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the death of Raphael Sanzio, work has begun on the restoration of seven of the nine tapestries preserved at the Ducal Palace in Mantua that were made in Brussels around 1550, starting from the famous cartoons made by the Urbino artist for the cycle intended for the Sistine Chapel, commissioned by Pope Leo X. Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga was the one who obtained the tapestries: he purchased them around the middle of the 16th century in Brussels and then had the cloths personalized by adding his own coat of arms at the top of the side borders of each piece. Initially the tapestries were supposed to decorate the city’s cathedral, but he later bequeathed them to his nephew Guglielmo Gonzaga, allocating them to the Basilica of Santa Barbara, where they are actually documented in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The nine tapestries depict stories of Saints Peter and Paul.

Visitors will have the opportunity to admire the restoration live, as it will be carried out in the manner of an open construction site: the work will take place on site and, in addition to following all the operations, the public will be able to participate in the educational activities planned to get closer to the knowledge of the tapestries.

Performing the restoration, financed in part with contributions from the National Committee for the Celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Death of Raphael, will be restorer Tiziana Benzi.

Ph.Credit Museum of Palazzo Ducale Mantua

Open restoration of the tapestries in the Ducale di Mantova made to Raphael's cartoons begun

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