Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een portret van Paus Leo X met twee kardinalen door Rafaël before 1861

This is a photogravure by Gustav Schauer, made in the late 19th century, after Raphael's famous portrait of Pope Leo X with two cardinals. The original painting encapsulates the power and pageantry of the Renaissance papacy, but it is also a portrait of a man, Leo X, born into the powerful Medici family. Schauer's photogravure captures the painting's intricate details and somber mood. The Pope is depicted in rich, textured robes, seated at a table with illuminated manuscripts, flanked by two cardinals whose presence emphasizes his authority. The image, carefully reproduced through the photogravure process, speaks to the late 19th-century fascination with Renaissance art and the reproduction of masterworks for wider audiences. It invites us to reflect on the role of religious figures in shaping cultural and political landscapes, and consider how historical images continue to influence our understanding of power, representation, and identity. The image quietly prompts us to consider the ongoing impact of the Catholic Church.