Head of a Pope(?) (recto); Two Studies of Left Hand (verso) 1550 - 1600

Jacopo Bassano sketched "Head of a Pope(?)" with black, red, and white chalk on blue paper sometime in the 16th century. During the Renaissance, the Catholic Church and its leaders were at the heart of social, political, and cultural life in Italy. While Bassano produced religious paintings, this portrait provides a more intimate, human look at a figure of power. The low angle of the head and the deep-set eyes evoke a sense of introspection. The identity of the sitter remains uncertain. The choice of medium, chalk, lends itself to softness, emphasizing the Pope's humanity rather than his status. Bassano was known for his drawings of the human body, particularly hands, and on the back of this sketch are studies of a left hand. In a society governed by religious authority, Bassano offers us a moment to reflect on faith, power, and the individuals who embodied these institutions.