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34 - TAPESTRY OF BRUSSELS, late 17th-early 18th CENTURY The handi…
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Estimate €6,000 - €8,000
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Description
TAPESTRY OF BRUSSELS, late 17th-early 18th CENTURY The handing over of the keys to Saint Peter's After the cartoon by Raphael (1483-1520) executed around 1515-1516, Acts of the Apostles series (London, V&A) Woven in wool and silk; wear and old restorations, missing edges Dimensions: 306 x 249 cm (120 ½ x 98 in.) Bibliography: G. Delmarcel, La tapisserie flamande, 1999, pp. 141-146. A Brussels tapestry depicting the handing over of the keys to St. Peter, based on the drawing by Raphael (1483-1520) executed around 1515-1516, from the Acts of the Apostles series, late 17th-early 18th century This tapestry, exceptional for its quality of execution and state of conservation, bears witness to the persistent influence of Raphael in the tastes of those who commissioned it, and to the re-editing work carried out in Flemish workshops. Originally woven shortly after 1516 in the Brussels workshop of Peter van Aelst for the walls of the Sistine Chapel, the model enjoyed immense success throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Depending on the wishes and means of those commissioning the work, reprints were accompanied by an appropriation of the model, sometimes leading to a reduction in the composition and the addition of fanciful borders. The scene reflects the monumentality of Raphael's figures, while focusing solely on Christ, the five apostles, including Peter, kneeling and receiving the keys, and the flock of lambs. The rest of the procession has been eliminated in favour of a tighter framing that leaves nothing of the landscape visible. The addition of twisted columns monumentalises and frames the scene. They may have been inspired by the cartoon in the same series, Peter Heals a Paralytic in Front of the Temple. The garlands of flowers that surround the columns and overhang the scene in the form of sprays add a delicate touch to this reinterpretation.
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About the sale Furniture and Works of Art - Evening Sale (Lot 1-170)
Auction location
Auction time 06/16/2026 at 5:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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