The Conversion of the Proconsul (Acts 13: 6-12)
Cartoon for a Tapestry
about 1515-1516 (made)
about 1515-1516 (made)
On display at V&A South Kensington
Raphael, Room 48a, The Raphael Cartoons| Artist/Maker | |
| Place Of Origin |
The Conversion of the Proconsul (Acts 13: 6-12)
The Raphael Cartoons are designs for tapestries and were commissioned from Raphael by Pope Leo X (reg. 1513-21) shortly after his election in 1513. The tapestries were intended to hang in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, built by one of Leo's predecessors Pope Sixtus IV (reg. 1471-84). The Chapel was primarily intended for the use of the Pope and the body of clergy and Laity immediately surrounding him. The decoration of the chapel under Sixtus addressed the lives of Moses and Christ. The tapestries continued this theme, illustrating scenes from the lives of St. Peter and St. Paul who were seen as the founders of the Christian Church, and reinforcing the legitimity of the Pope's authority and power. The resulting tapestries had in addition woven borders showing scenes from Leo's life and from the lives of Saint Paul, also designed by Raphael: the cartoons for these have not survived.
In this Cartoon, Paul strikes the Jewish sorcerer Elymas with temporary blindness for he has tried to prevent him and Barnabas from converting the proconsul Sergius Paulus to the Christian faith. Witnessing this, the proconsul embraces Christianity. The story illustrates Paul's mission to convert the Gentiles, while Peter's is to convert the Jews.
The Raphael Cartoons are designs for tapestries and were commissioned from Raphael by Pope Leo X (reg. 1513-21) shortly after his election in 1513. The tapestries were intended to hang in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, built by one of Leo's predecessors Pope Sixtus IV (reg. 1471-84). The Chapel was primarily intended for the use of the Pope and the body of clergy and Laity immediately surrounding him. The decoration of the chapel under Sixtus addressed the lives of Moses and Christ. The tapestries continued this theme, illustrating scenes from the lives of St. Peter and St. Paul who were seen as the founders of the Christian Church, and reinforcing the legitimity of the Pope's authority and power. The resulting tapestries had in addition woven borders showing scenes from Leo's life and from the lives of Saint Paul, also designed by Raphael: the cartoons for these have not survived.
In this Cartoon, Paul strikes the Jewish sorcerer Elymas with temporary blindness for he has tried to prevent him and Barnabas from converting the proconsul Sergius Paulus to the Christian faith. Witnessing this, the proconsul embraces Christianity. The story illustrates Paul's mission to convert the Gentiles, while Peter's is to convert the Jews.
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The Raphael Cartoons: The Conversion of the Proconsul
The Raphael Cartoons are considered one of the greatest treasures of the Renaissance. These huge, full-scale designs for tapestries were created by Raphael – one of the most important masters of the Renaissance period. Commissioned by Pope Leo X, shortly after his election in 1513, for the...
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The story of the Raphael Cartoons
The Raphael Cartoons are considered one of the greatest treasures of the Renaissance in the UK. These huge, full-scale designs for tapestries were created by Raphael – one of the most important masters of the Renaissance period. Commissioned by Pope Leo X, shortly after his election in 151...
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Explore the Raphael Cartoons
The Raphael Cartoons are a set of seven full-scale designs for a series of tapestries created by Raphael and are considered one of the greatest treasures of the Renaissance.
object details
| Categories | |
| Object Type | |
| Materials and Techniques | Bodycolour (glue tempera) on paper mounted on canvas in the late 17th century |
| Brief Description | Raphael Cartoon The Conversion of the Proconsul (Acts 13: 6-12) |
| Physical Description | Cartoon for a tapestry |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Lent by Her Majesty The Queen |
| Object history | Acquired by the Prince of Wales, future King Charles I in 1623 |
| Summary | The Conversion of the Proconsul (Acts 13: 6-12) The Raphael Cartoons are designs for tapestries and were commissioned from Raphael by Pope Leo X (reg. 1513-21) shortly after his election in 1513. The tapestries were intended to hang in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, built by one of Leo's predecessors Pope Sixtus IV (reg. 1471-84). The Chapel was primarily intended for the use of the Pope and the body of clergy and Laity immediately surrounding him. The decoration of the chapel under Sixtus addressed the lives of Moses and Christ. The tapestries continued this theme, illustrating scenes from the lives of St. Peter and St. Paul who were seen as the founders of the Christian Church, and reinforcing the legitimity of the Pope's authority and power. The resulting tapestries had in addition woven borders showing scenes from Leo's life and from the lives of Saint Paul, also designed by Raphael: the cartoons for these have not survived. In this Cartoon, Paul strikes the Jewish sorcerer Elymas with temporary blindness for he has tried to prevent him and Barnabas from converting the proconsul Sergius Paulus to the Christian faith. Witnessing this, the proconsul embraces Christianity. The story illustrates Paul's mission to convert the Gentiles, while Peter's is to convert the Jews. |
| Associated Objects | |
| Bibliographic References |
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| Collection | |
| Accession Number | ROYAL LOANS.8 |
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| record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |