Portret van paus Leo XII 1809 - 1829

Curator: Here we have an engraving of Pope Leo XII, dating from between 1809 and 1829. It’s currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. The artist was Hendrik Willem Caspari. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the profile, so severe and imposing. There's something about the starkness of the engraving, the pure line, that lends a certain gravity, an austerity almost, to his presence. Curator: Yes, the lines themselves convey authority. It’s very neoclassical, isn’t it? Restrained, controlled, idealized. This wasn’t meant to be a warts-and-all depiction. Editor: You can almost feel the weight of expectation that went along with wearing the papal tiara! And the choice of engraving – it feels significant. Engravings were the mass media of their time, disseminating images of power far and wide. To see Leo XII immortalized in this form makes him almost an archetype, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. Think about what engraving does—it strips away the colour and complexity, reduces the image to its essence. And this rendering presents us not so much with Leo the man, but rather Leo the office, the idea of the Pope. It is fascinating to think of what kind of symbolic weight this portrait would carry at that time. It must have played quite a role in solidifying both religious and political ideas about this leader. Editor: Do you think that is different in function than a painting? Curator: Quite so. I'd say paintings had more room for play and personal nuance, while engraving and its multiples functioned like branding! Consider all those little details that signal power—the meticulous lines that shape his vestments, his piercing gaze—they work together to construct this very powerful visual language. Editor: Exactly. Even though this image has been created so very long ago, looking at the crisp lines on this simple work brings the past directly into conversation with us now. What an impactful use of form! Curator: Yes! Looking at it this way has shifted my perspective too. Thank you.