In the beginning, many of the themes were conservative. They were beautiful pieces that often depicted idyllic scenes from daily life. From 1516-1521, a set of tapestries was created that was titled, “Act of the Apostles.” They were commissioned by Pope Leo X and woven from based on the full scale design cartoons that were created by the famous painter, Rafael (Raffaello Santi).
Raphael Cartoon For The Tapestry – The Conversion of The Proconsul The Blinding Of ElymasThese religious tapestries were in the form of an enormous woven fresco with life size figures in realistic and imagined settings.
While the artistry of Raphael and the weavers were not controversial, Raphael included iconography and clues within the work that established Pope Leo X’s position as a representative of Christ on earth. This was one of the first tapestries to serve as an allegory for someone of authority. This religious tapestry set established the Raphael School and would alter the course of tapestry design in the years to come.