Portret van paus Pius II 1549 - 1573

This is a portrait of Pope Pius II by an anonymous artist, made using engraving. The papal tiara is a dominant symbol here, signifying not just religious authority but also the accumulation of power through its three crowns. Consider how this echoes the ancient Persian king's tiara, an emblem adopted by the papacy to visually assert their spiritual and temporal dominion. Even the cross adorning Pius’s garments is laden with import, harking back to early Christian symbols of sacrifice and redemption, yet here, it serves as a marker of status. These symbols, though rooted in religious narratives, resonate beyond mere theological doctrine, influencing cultural memory and engaging the viewer on a subconscious level. They reveal the non-linear, cyclical progression, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.