Raphael Tapestries Go on Show in Britain at the Victoria & Albert Museum

LONDON (REUTERS).- Four priceless tapestries designed by the Renaissance master Raphael have gone on display with their original drawings for the first time at an exhibition in London to coincide with Pope Benedict’s visit to Britain. The fragile artworks — woven from wool, silk, gold and silver — were created for the Sistine Chapel and are considered to be among the greatest treasures of the High Renaissance. The Vatican has never lent four of its Raphael tapestries at the same [...]

Vatican Reverses Itself, “The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence” Not a Caravaggio

VATICAN CITY (AP).- The Vatican’s top art historian on Monday shot down a report in its own newspaper that suggested a recently discovered painting was a Caravaggio. The head of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci, wrote in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano that the work was most likely a copy of an original by a Caravaggio-influence artist. It was L’Osservatore itself that set the art world aflutter last week with a front-page article headlined “A New Caravaggio,” detailing the artistry [...]

Italian Couple Uncovers Raphael Copies in their Apartment

CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy—In 1972, Tarcisio and Teresa de Paolis decided that they wanted an extra bathroom for their apartment, which is located just outside Rome in a former medieval tower, and, being a handyman, Mr. de Paolis decided to handle the work himself. However, as he removed plaster from an apartment wall, he made a shocking discovery: an immaculate fresco. “First I came across Saint Peter’s sword, then his hand and arm,” de Paolis told the Agence France-Presse. After removing more [...]