The Miraculous Draught of Fishes - Raphael
Archival giclée
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Description
A fine art print of Raphael's cartoon for the Sistine Chapel tapestries, depicting the biblical scene of the miraculous catch of fish.
The Miraculous Draught of Fishes is one of the ten cartoons commissioned by Pope Leo X for the Sistine Chapel tapestries. Raphael designed these large-scale works to be woven in Brussels, and they represent a peak of his compositional skill. The scene depicts the biblical account of the miraculous catch of fish, where Jesus instructs Peter to cast his nets into the Sea of Galilee.
Raphael organises the narrative across two small boats, which appear precariously low in the water due to the weight of the catch. The figures are rendered with a sense of physical exertion, particularly the men straining to haul the nets. Peter is shown kneeling before Christ in a gesture of humility and recognition. The composition balances the human drama with the surrounding environment, including the birds in the foreground and the distant townscape.
The original cartoons were executed in distemper on paper, a medium that allowed for fluid lines and clear colour application. This print captures the clarity of Raphael's draughtsmanship and his ability to convey psychological depth through gesture and posture. The figures possess a sculptural quality, reflecting the influence of classical antiquity on the artist's work. The spatial arrangement guides the eye from the foreground birds to the central interaction between Christ and his disciples, creating a cohesive visual story. This work remains a primary example of the High Renaissance approach to narrative art, where human emotion and theological themes are integrated into a balanced, harmonious structure.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
The Miraculous Draught of Fishes - Raphael
Artist Biography
Raphael
He was born in Urbino, the son of a painter. His father died when he was eleven, and by his teens he was already working in the studio of Perugino, whose smooth, symmetrical compositions gave Raphael his starting point. He surpassed Perugino quickly. He studied Leonardo's sfumato and Michelangelo's anatomical intensity and absorbed both without losing his own clarity. The Madonnas from his Florentine period (the Madonna of the Goldfinch, the Sistine Madonna) have a serene perfection that has been imitated for five hundred years and never matched.
Pope Julius II summoned him to Rome in 1508, the same year he commissioned Michelangelo for the Sistine ceiling. Raphael painted the Stanze della Segnatura: four rooms in the Vatican whose frescoes include The School of Athens, the single most famous image of classical philosophy. Plato and Aristotle walk through an ideal architecture surrounded by every major thinker of the ancient world. Raphael painted Michelangelo into the scene as Heraclitus, brooding alone on the steps. Michelangelo was furious.
He ran a large workshop that produced portraits, altarpieces, tapestry designs, and architectural plans. He was appointed architect of St Peter's Basilica. He was charming, diplomatic, and universally liked, which made Michelangelo dislike him even more.
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