Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een portret van Paus Julius II door Rafaël before 1861

Gustav Schauer made this photogravure reproduction of a print of Raphael’s portrait of Pope Julius II, sometime in the 19th century. Julius II, who reigned from 1503 to 1513, was nicknamed the Warrior Pope for his military campaigns to expand the Papal States. Here, though, Schauer presents a more contemplative Julius. We see him in quiet repose, his gaze averted. What does it mean to represent a man known for war in such a subdued posture? It's interesting to consider how power is both asserted and performed. What do we expect from our leaders, and how do they use visual cues to communicate their authority and humanity? Consider the relationship between the original painting, the print made after it, and then this photographic reproduction of the print. Each iteration transforms the image, layering it with new meanings. This reproduction invites us to reflect on how we receive and interpret images of power and leadership across different eras and media.