Portrait of Pope Innocent X Diego Rodriguez De Silva y Velazquez (1599-1660)

Description of Diego Velázquez’s painting Pope Innocent

In the middle of his artistic period, Velázquez visits the Italian capital to purchase local statues and paintings and to take casts for future work in his native country. It was then that he happened to see Pope Innocent X.

As a professional painter, Velázquez was able to portray everything in his painting: the red walls of the room, inside which stands a heavy gilded throne, with a red canopy spread over it. On the throne is the 76-year-old Innocent X. His name inspired fear, it was he who gave orders to burn at the stake of the Inquisition heretics who allowed themselves to rebel against the precepts that did not allow man to reason.

In the painting Velazquez depicted the Pope so that no one who looks at him can not tear his eyes off. The snow-white robes, framed by fine and delicate lace, could arouse the envy of any fashionista of the time. The cassock was covered with a burgundy sutana that covered his shoulders and arms. On his head he has a brightly-colored skullcap.

Particularly strong artist was able to convey the face of the Pope. It seems to be pale gray because of the contrasting red tones. The mouth is quite wide, but the lips are very thin. The face is framed by a light beard and mustache. The nose is rather large. Slightly lowered to the bottom. And the eyes are not at all like those of an old man. They are small, pale blue, but very expressive. The gaze of Innocent X practically pierces the reader. Aged hands, adorned with numerous rings, are lowered to the arms of the chair.

Velázquez tried to get away from the traditional rules and conventions regarding depictions of popes. Many masters, who had portrayed popes on more than one occasion, did not dare to break the established canons. However, Velázquez stepped over it, trying to capture not only the appearance, but also the inner state of the pope.