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Raphael Cartoons

Print
before 1746 (engraved), 19th century (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This picture represents Saint Paul's first miracle, performed in the presence of the Proconsul Sergius Paulus. Elymas, who was adviser to the Proconsul, and had previously ordered Paul to be whipped for his Christian faith, was struck blind by words spoken to him by Saint Paul. This event led to the Proconsul's conversion to Christianity.

This print is derived from a cartoon by Raphael. 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.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Raphael Cartoons (generic title)
  • The Conversion of the Proconsul (popular title)
  • The Conversion of Sergius Paulus (popular title)
  • Elymas
  • The Blinding of Elymas (popular title)
  • Elymas the Sorcerer Struck Blind (popular title)
Materials and techniques
etching and engraving on paper
Brief description
Etching and engraving by Claude du Bosc, after a cartoon by Raphael, published by W. Tegg; The Blinding of Elymas; published in London.
Physical description
In an ornate interior with marble floor and columns. Elymas is front right of the image, Saint Paul, with a halo, to the front right holding a book. The Proconsul L Sergius Paulus sits on his throne on a platform wearing a laurel crown, and surrounded by followers, two of whom hold large scrolls. The platform has strone carving, a military trophy decoration and an inscription. Through the left arch in the background a hilly landscape can be seen.

This print is in the same direction as the cartoon from which it is derived and is faithful in compositional detail except that the landscape is slightly different and the text on the platform is different and back to front.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 47.7cm
  • Sheet width: 59.6cm
  • Platemark height: 39.7cm
  • Platemark width: 43.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • C. DU BOSC, SCULP. (Lower right)
  • RAPHAEL URBIN. PINXT. (Lower left)
  • LONDON: PUBLISHED BY W. TEGG, PANCRAS LANE. (Centre)
  • ELYMAS STRUCK WITH BLINDNESS. (Centre, outline capitals)
  • Printed by T. Brooker. (Lower right)
  • L. SERGIVS PAVLVS / ASIAE PROCOS: / CHRISTIANEM FIDEM. / AMPLECTITVR, / SAVLI PRAEDICATIONE. (On plinth below Sergius)
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceBible, Acts, 13
Summary
This picture represents Saint Paul's first miracle, performed in the presence of the Proconsul Sergius Paulus. Elymas, who was adviser to the Proconsul, and had previously ordered Paul to be whipped for his Christian faith, was struck blind by words spoken to him by Saint Paul. This event led to the Proconsul's conversion to Christianity.

This print is derived from a cartoon by Raphael. 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.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Shearman, John. Raphael's Cartoons in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen and the tapestries for the Sistine Chapel. London, Phaidon, 1972.
  • Fermor, Sharon. The Raphael Tapestry Cartoons: Narrative, Decoration, Design. London, Scala Books in association with the Victoria and Albery Museum.
  • Vol. II, p. 537 Le Blanc, Charles. Manuel de l'Amateur d'Estampes. Paris, 1854-6.
Collection
Accession number
E.860E-1888

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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