The Raphael Cartoons

The Raphael Cartoons are a set of seven full-scale designs for a series of tapestries created by Raphael and are considered one of the greatest treasures of the Renaissance.

In 2019, as part of the project to mark the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death, the V&A worked with Factum Foundation for Digital Technology in Conservation to carry out an ultra-high-resolution recording of the seven Cartoons in colour, 3D and infrared. This work was generously supported by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.
The images from the project are crucial for the study and future care of the Cartoons, as well as offering us unprecedented access to these monumental masterpieces.

Working with these high-definition photographic assets we have been able to discover previously hidden details, providing us with a fascinating insight into Raphael’s design process, how the Cartoons were used, and how they have fared over the past 500 years.

Explore a selection of these discoveries and what they reveal online Here