Pope Paul V 1596 - 1641

This anonymous portrait of Pope Paul V, housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK), is a small but striking oil painting. The work is a portrait of the Pope sitting in a chair, dressed in his full papal regalia. The artist captures the Pope's regal presence with a sense of quiet authority. The painting's small size and intimate composition suggest it was likely intended as a personal devotional piece rather than a grand official portrait. Despite being unsigned and undated, the painting can be estimated to have been made sometime between 1596 and 1641. The portrait offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the papacy during this period, highlighting the significance of iconography and symbolism in representing religious authority.