Raphael masterpieces reunited

For the first time ever 4 tapestries designed for the Sistine Chapel by the Italian Renaissance painter Raphael have gone on display alongside their original cartoons, something the artist himself never witnessed. The venue for these reunited masterpieces is London's Victoria and Albert Museum at a special exhihibition timed to coincide with the papal visit to Britain. Curator Mark Evans spoke to Susy Hodges......

"....it's something I've long dreamed of ..... the proposal was made to us by the Vatican Museums.....and we immediately accepted with alacrity ... to bring these two sister works of art together after 500 years is a unique achievement ..."

".. in the Renaissance, tapestries were the more spectacular and expensive form of decoration.....it took a year to make a single tapestry........(Pope) Leo made the extraordinarily imaginative decision to bring together Raphael., the great Italian designer and painter .... and the Flemish weavers... and the result is....."