President of the Hellenic Parliament Constantine Tassoulas (R) and French Ambassador to Greece Patrick Maisonnave stand in front of a tapestry depicting School of Athens inside the Greek parliament in Athens, Greece, on March 22, 2021. A rare 18th century tapestry depicting Italian Renaissance artist Raphael's masterpiece School of Athens was put on display in the Greek Parliament on Monday. The work, a reproduction of Raphael's fresco inside the Vatican Museum, has been loaned to Greece on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence, which will be celebrated this Thursday. (George Kontarinis/Eurokinissi/Handout via Xinhua)
ATHENS, March 22 -- A rare 18th century tapestry depicting Italian Renaissance artist Raphael's masterpiece 'School of Athens' was put on display in the Greek Parliament on Monday.
The work, a reproduction of Raphael's fresco inside the Vatican Museum, has been loaned to Greece on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence, which will be celebrated this Thursday.
The tapestry is one of two made at the historic Gobelins Manufactory in Paris. One has been kept in the plenary hall of the French National Assembly building since 1879, and the one now on display in Greece adorns the office of Richard Ferrand, president of the same institution.
"It is the first time ever since it was manufactured in 1775 that the work left France. We thank you for this kind and substantial gesture," the president of the Hellenic Parliament, Constantine Tassoulas, said, welcoming the work.
"The 'School of Athens' symbolizes our commitment to democracy. It reminds us of all those things that western republics owe to Greece," said French Ambassador to Greece Patrick Maisonnave, according to a press statement.
The 'School of Athens', painted between 1509 and 1511 by Raphael, depicts great ancient Greek philosophers and scientists, like Plato, Aristotle, Archimedes and Pythagoras, exchanging views, seeking the truth.
The tapestry will remain on display in the Greek Parliament for about a year.
