Leone X c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Leone X" by Samuele Jesi, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels very formal. What complexities might we unpack here? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the politics inherent in portraiture, particularly papal portraits. How does the artist position Leo X within the power structures of the time? The gaze, the attire, the attendants... they all construct a narrative. What might that narrative obscure? Editor: So, it's about looking past the surface? What kind of critical questions should we be asking? Curator: Precisely! What societal norms are being upheld? Whose voices are missing? Think about the Reformation brewing during Leo X’s papacy and how this image might function as propaganda. Editor: That gives me a lot to consider. It's not just a portrait; it's a statement. Curator: Exactly! Art constantly speaks to power, and power constantly shapes art.