The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-09-06
| VATICAN MASTERPIECE

INFANT JESUS NEARING COM
PLETIoN-AN ALTAR-PIEcE FOR
THE sIsTINE cHAPEL-RENAIs-
sANcE OF TAPESTRY WEAVING.
At the Vatican, work is fast near
ing completion-at least comparative
ly speaking tapestry which has
now been in constant process of weav-
ing for more than thirteen years.
Professor Gentili, director of the fac
tory, and who has dedicated the great
er part of thirteen years of his life
to this one work, is now confident
that the tapestry will be finished early
next year, and arrangements are al
ready being made for it's installation
in the Vatican with unusual cere-
monies and honors.
The tapestry, which is of the ordi-
nary wall-hanging size, represents st.
Joseph holding the Infant Christ in
his arms. On each side are figures of
angels, one supporting a symbolical
design representing the Catholic
Church, and the other holding the
pontifcal bull by which st. Joseph was
made universal patron saint of the
entire Church.
The tapestry is designed as an
altar piece for the famous Sistine
Chapel, where are held the conclaves
for the election of new Popes, the
consistories for the elevation of new
Cardinals, and practically all of the
the Popes now oficiate personally.
AS it happens that the name of the
present Pontiff is Joseph, it is
planned that the tapestry shall be
formally installed next year on st.
Joseph's day, with the Pope himself
participating in the function.
Professor Gentilli has quite set his
heart on making the tapestry his
masterpiece, and it is largely on ac-
count of this desire that some four
teen years will have been required
for it's completion. ALI of the work
stitch by stitch, and the weaving in
of color after color, each one a
thread at time.
1t has happened repeatedly that the
merest kind of a mechanical blunder
has required weeks of work to re-
pair. Sometimes, too, thread has
not been of just the right shade and
the color effect has been impaired.
In such cases it has been necessary
to unweave that portion of the
tapestry and do it all over again, al
ways stitch at a time, and every
stitch perfect in itself.
Renaissance of Tapestry Weaving.
Professor Gentili now represents
the second generation of the modern
tradition and renaissance of tapestry
weaving in Italy. The art which
had formerly reached a high perfec-
ton in Italy fell into disuse in the
seventeenth century. At that time
tapestries which are now worth
fabulous sums were carelessly stored
and piled away in corners of the
Vatican. Some of them were later
dug out and used for covering carts
and similar unitarian purposes.
i Later, however, in the eighteenth
century, interest in the art revived
and the Popes took it up. They
rescued what tapestries could still be
found about the Vatican and encour-
aged schools of weaving. The school
of San Michele, founded by Cardinal
Barberini, became especially famous.
In fact, it's work so rivaled that of
the famous Gobelins at Paris that
when Napoleon descended on Italy
he decided it was his place to look
after the laurels of the French
school, and he accordingly suppressed
that of Rome.
The final revival of tapestry
weaving on a serious and artistic
, scale in Italy then took place under
the pontifcate of Pope Leo XIII. He
founded new school at the Vatican
and the father of Professor Gentili
was made the director. In spite OF
his success he had no wish that his
son should follow in an occupation Sc
/ difficult and one that can only exist
by royal support. Pietro was accord
ingly sent to the university with the
idea that one day he should occupy
/ the chair of philosophy at some
Italian university. Pietro, however
from his infancy had in mind an en-
tirely different chair-that before a
/ tapestry weaving loom-and so il
came about that when his father
/ died in the harness, as nearly all
J tapestry weavers do, without having
made a penny above their living
but with having left a legacy of ART
| to the world for all time to come, he
did what also nearly all tapestry
/ weavers do-he left his position al
| the Vatican for his son to fill.
Professor Gentili Master Artist.
, That Professor Gentili has been
I faithfully doing. He has ten pupils
under him, but all of the finer com.
, missions are executed entirely by his
own hand. One of his most famous
works is now in the throne room Of
Emperor Franz Josef at Vienna II
represents the aged ruler in his full
court robes, with one hand resting on
, a table where there is a portrait Of