Portrait of Pope Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi), c1667. The stately figure of the pope sits before lavish drapery suggesting an aristocratic setting. He raises his right hand with its papal ring in a gesture of benediction. By seeing the pope blessing his audience, viewers are reminded that he is Christ's representative on earth.

---

Size: 3978px × 4960px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1660s, 17th, alexander, apparel, aristocracy, aristocrat, art, arts, baciccia, baciccio, baroque, battista, beard, bearded, benediction, blessing, camera, canvas, cape, catholic, catholicism, century, chigi, christianity, clothes, clothing, color, colour, concept, country, direct, dress, era, fabio, facial, fashion, gauli, gaulli, gaze, gesture, gesturing, giovanni, guy, hair, hand, hat, heritage, high, italian, italy, location, male, man, men, museum, nobility, oil, painting, papal, people, person, pope, portrait, religion, religious, rococo, roman, seated, seventeenth, seventh, sitting, vii, walters, workshop