Fotoreproductie van een prent naar het geschilderde portret van paus Leo X door Rafaël before 1863

This is a photographic reproduction by Giacomo Brogi, made in Italy in the second half of the 19th century, after Raphael's painted portrait of Pope Leo X. Photography in the 19th century played an important role in shaping art historical narratives. Consider the institutional context: this photograph wasn't made for a church, or a palace, but for mass distribution. Brogi capitalized on the increasing popular demand for images of artworks, making them accessible to a wider audience, beyond the elite circles who could visit museums or own original paintings. The choice of subject is also telling. Leo X, a member of the Medici family, was a powerful figure of the Renaissance papacy. By reproducing this iconic portrait, Brogi not only catered to the public's interest in Renaissance art, but also participated in the construction of a national artistic heritage. To further understand the significance of this image, one might explore Brogi's archive, and the history of photography as a tool for art dissemination.