I share with you today two masterpieces of Peter Paul Rubens. Actually the first one is his original, while the second one is a tapestry made on the same painting. It represents Jesus being raised for crucifixion, helped by 8 strong men, all of them twisting and contortioning themslves to lift the heavy weight of the cross and the crucified Jesus. This painting was one of many others which were chosen to be made into classic tapestries for the Cathedral of St John in Valletta, Malta, which were magnificently displayed last May. It was customary in those days that the ruler or Grandmaster of the island of Malta would donate a special gift to the Order of the Knights of St John, and he chose to donate a magnificent set of 29 tapestries to be hung in the conventual church built in the 1570s.
The tapesties were done in Brussels at the weaving house of Jacobus de Vos between the years 1697 and 1702. The tapestries encircle the entire church, done on the order of the Grand Master Ramon Perellos. This dramatic moment reproduced in this tapestry shows the cross of Jesus being raised into its place. Tension, motion, space and time are illustrated along with the struggle to upright the cross. The lower part of this action show 4 men trying to straighten the cross, as the other 4 are helping in the upper part of the cross. Even a dog is there to help encourage the men in their struggle. The tapestry itself is bigger than this detail, and shows Mary and John the apostle on the left, and the centurion on a horse on the right side. (Click on each photo to enlarge)
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