Raphael Cartoons; Christ's Charge to Peter
- Object:
- Place of origin:
London, England (published)
- Date:
before 1755 (engraved)
19th century (published)
- Artist/Maker:
Lépicié, François Bernard, born 1698 - died 1755 (engraver)
Raphael, born 1483 - died 1520 (artist)
W. Tegg (published)
- Materials and Techniques:
etching and engraving on paper
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D, case E, shelf 3, box B
- Image unavailable
This print depicts the scene of Christ's Charge to Peter, combining text from two books of the bible, Matthew and John. According to Matthew, Christ asks Peter to care for his sheep and gives Peter the keys to his kingdom of Heaven, representing Peter's role of responsibility in the church and towards the faithful. The lake on the left is a visual continuation from the tapestry adjacent to it, the Miraculous Draught of Fishes.
This print is in the same orientation as the cartoon from which it is derived. The so-called Raphael Cartoons are seven full size designs for tapestries by the great Italian Renaissance artist Raphael (1483-1520). They illustrate passages from the Bible concerning the lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. None of them is smaller than ten feet high by thirteen feet wide. They belong to Her Majesty the Queen and have been on loan to this museum since 1865. The earliest print relating to the Raphael Cartoons dates from 1516, the year in which Raphael received final payment for the commission. It inaugurates an extraordinary case study in the history of printmaking, stretching over more than four hundred and fifty years and across a wide range of printmaking techniques.
Physical description
The scene is set in a hilly landscape setting with a town and trees in the background. Christ is on the left and the Apostles stand to his right. Saint Peter holds a key and kneels in front of the group, just to the right of Christ. On the right is a lake, in which a boat is moored.
This print is in the same direction as the cartoon from which it is derived and is faithful in compositional detail.
Place of Origin
London, England (published)
Date
before 1755 (engraved)
19th century (published)
Artist/maker
Lépicié, François Bernard, born 1698 - died 1755 (engraver)
Raphael, born 1483 - died 1520 (artist)
W. Tegg (published)
Materials and Techniques
etching and engraving on paper
Marks and inscriptions
B. LÉPICIÉ, SCULP.
RAPHAEL URBIN, PUNX.
LONDON: PUBLISHED BY W. TEGG, PANCRAS LANE.
CHRIST'S CHARGE TO PETER.
Printed by T. Booker.
Dimensions
Height: 48.3 cm sheet, Width: 58.4 cm sheet, Height: 35.7 cm platemark, Width: 52 cm platemark
Descriptive line
Etching and engraving by François Bernard Lépicié, after a cartoon by Raphael, published by W. Tegg; Christ's Charge to Peter; published in London.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Shearman, John. Raphael's Cartoons in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen and the tapestries for the Sistine Chapel. London, Phaidon, 1972.
General text about the cartoons and tapestries.
Fermor, Sharon. The Raphael Tapestry Cartoons: Narrative, Decoration, Design. London, Scala Books in association with the Victoria and Albery Museum.
General text about the cartoons and tapestries.
Le Blanc, Charles. Manuel de l'Amateur d'Estampes. Paris, 1854-6.
Materials
Paper; Printing ink
Techniques
Etching (printing process); Engraving (printing process)
Subjects depicted
Landscapes; Jesus Christ; Sheep; Peter (Saint); Raphael Cartoons; Clothing, Costume; The Disciples; Key to Heaven
Categories
Prints; Religion; Christianity
Collection code
PDP
