The Senator Returning from the Vatican 1860 - 1870

Constantin Guys made this drawing of a senator returning from the Vatican with pen and brown ink, with gray wash, over graphite. It evokes the pomp and circumstance of political power in mid-19th century France. The procession, complete with marching guards, flags, and ornate carriages, presents a vivid picture of the Second Empire. Guys, as an artist working for publications like the Illustrated London News, was in a unique position to observe and record the rituals of the powerful. The senator's return, likely involving diplomatic negotiations, highlights the relationship between church and state, a recurring tension in French history. Was this senator successful in his negotiations? How did the relationship between France and the Vatican affect ordinary French citizens? To understand this image fully, historians might consult diplomatic records, newspaper accounts, and personal letters. This is how we can better understand the social structures of the time.