France’s parliament has loaned a rare 18th century tapestry to the Greek House depicting “The School of Athens,” the famous 16th century fresco by the Italian High Renaissance master Raphael.
The loan was described as a gesture of commemoration of the bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence.
 
In a message on Twitter, Secretary General of the Hellenic Parliament George Mylonakis thanked French lawmakers for the gesture and described the work as “an ode to Greek thought that laid the foundations of Democracy.”
The tapestry has adorned the Plenary Hall in the French assembly since 1879.
La fresque “l’Ecole d’Athènes” de Raphaël est accrochée aujourd’hui au @Parliament_GR
La tapisserie a été prêtée pour quelques mois en 🇬🇷par @AssembleeNat 🇫🇷à l’occasion du bicentenaire de l’indépendance grecque.
En présence de Patrick_Maisonnave et Konstantinos Tasoulas. pic.twitter.com/CzFaZRiMQh— La France en Grèce (@FranceenGrece) March 22, 2021
Στη Βουλή των Ελλήνων η ταπισερί «Η Σχολή των Αθηνών» ως προσφορά του Προέδρου της Γαλλικής Εθνοσυνέλευσης για τα 200 χρόνια από την Ελληνική Επανάσταση https://t.co/4gHKN2gibl pic.twitter.com/t0qilqZcP4
— Γραφείο Τύπου (@Parliament_GR) March 22, 2021
This article was first published on ekathimerini.com.