Portret van paus Leo XII 1824

This engraving by Filippo Pistrucci is a portrait of Pope Leo the 12th. It's an image that connects to a complex web of social, religious and political history. This portrait, produced in Rome, visualizes the cultural and institutional power of the papacy. Look at how the Pope is dressed in ceremonial robes, a clear signifier of his status. The image creates meaning through these visual codes and through the historical associations connected to the Catholic Church. At the time this was made, the Church was in recovery after the Napoleonic era. Leo the 12th was known as a conservative figure, keen to reinforce traditional hierarchies. This image has a clear role in the politics of imagery. It's designed to project the authority of the Church and its leader. To understand it better, we need to consider the social and institutional context in which the artwork was made. Researching the history of the papacy at this time, using sources such as Papal Bulls and contemporary chronicles, helps us to interpret its meaning.