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Portrait of Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Spanish artist Pedro Berruguete spent a decade in Italy in the 1470s and 1480s, including a period in Rome during which he painted Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere from life. Here, the pope raises his hand in a gesture of benediction, blessing the viewer while meeting their gaze. Using white highlights to represent the glittering luminosity of the bejeweled garments, Berruguete accentuates Sixtus IV’s sumptuous attire, including the triregnum, or ceremonial triple crown and symbol of the papacy.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit linePortrait of Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere, c. 1476–82. Pedro Berruguete (Castilian, c. 1445/1450-1503). Oil on wood, transferred to canvas; framed: 95.5 x 76 x 5 cm (37 5/8 x 29 15/16 x 1 15/16 in.); unframed: 70.2 x 51.4 cm (27 5/8 x 20 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Holden Collection, 1916.815
