Portret van paus Alexander VIII 1689 - 1713

Pieter Schenk's portrait of Pope Alexander the VIII is an engraving, a medium that democratized images, placing this figure of immense power into wider circulation. The engraving captures Alexander VIII, born Marco Ottoboni, who reigned as Pope from 1689 to 1691, against a backdrop of religious and political tension in Europe. Alexander’s papacy occurred at a time when the Catholic Church was trying to reassert its authority. It was also a period marked by the rise of nationalism and evolving power dynamics between religious and secular entities. The very act of creating and distributing this portrait speaks to a strategic effort to solidify the Pope's image and influence. The inscription, which celebrates Alexander ascending to power is a reminder of the powerful symbolism attached to the papacy, a position that, for centuries, has shaped not only spiritual but also political landscapes. This portrait encapsulates a moment in history where the personal intersected with the political, and the spiritual with the temporal.