Portret van paus Alexander VIII 1689

Arnold van Westerhout made this print of Pope Alexander VIII in the late 17th century. It shows the Pope in an oval frame, surrounded by inscriptions and heraldic symbols, visual cues that tell us about his authority and lineage. This portrait gives us a glimpse into the visual culture of the Catholic Church during the Baroque period in Rome. The image uses established visual codes to convey power, authority, and divine legitimacy. The Pope's clothing, the inscriptions, and the coat of arms are all symbols of his high office and the power of the Catholic Church. The image served to reinforce the Pope's authority at a time when the Catholic Church was facing challenges from the Protestant Reformation and secular rulers. To understand such images fully, art historians investigate these symbols, their origins, and meanings. We look into the archives of powerful institutions and families. In doing so, we reveal how art is enmeshed with social, religious, and political life.