Plafonschildering in de Vaticaanse Musea te Vaticaanstad c. 1875 - 1900

This is a photograph of a ceiling painting in the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, taken by Gustave Eugène Chauffourier, sometime between 1845 and 1919. This image speaks to the power of the Vatican as an institution, and the way that it has used art to project its authority. By commissioning elaborate artworks, the Vatican was able to visually reinforce its message. This photograph serves as a documentary record of the way the Vatican presents itself. To truly understand this image, we would need to do further research into the specific imagery in the ceiling painting itself, and the history of the Vatican Museums. Understanding the history of the papacy and the political context in which the art was commissioned helps us understand the image. The politics of imagery are central to understanding the cultural significance of artworks such as this.