Jay-Z's Magna Carta album artwork goes on display beside real document

Jay-Z has been applauded for drawing attention to the historic Magna Carta document with the release of his new album.

The Empire State of Mind hitmaker officially releases Magna Carta Holy Grail this week (begs08Jul13) and to mark the occasion, his album artwork - depicting two statues with his name struck out in black - has been placed on display beside one of four real copies of the Medieval legal charter at Britain's Salisbury Cathedral until the end of July (13).

Photos of the special installment have been shared on the hip-hop mogul's Life+Times website and the Dean of Salisbury, the Very Reverend June Osborne, admits she is "delighted" Jay-Z chose to work with her church.

She has also heaped praise on the hip-hop mogul for drawing attention to the piece of history with his music: "Jay-Z is creating a huge awareness of this historic document and its modern significance to a huge audience... We hope to welcome many of his fans here this summer to see the artwork."

The Magna Carta was signed by England's King John in 1215 and is a charter of liberty and political rights which was used to prevent the monarch from abusing his powers, instead ordering him to govern the country in accordance with the law. The document was also used by America's forefathers as the basis for their Constitution.