Arkivism
Anti-Catholic caricature on the election of a pope, possibly ca. 1758
Public domain

Anti-Catholic caricature on the election of a pope, possibly ca. 1758

anonymous · 1758 · etching; engraving; paper

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

Anti-Catholic caricature mocking the election of a cardinal as pope, possibly referring to the appointment of Pope Clement XIII in 1758. In the centre, a cardinal receives the papal tiara from Fortuna. The naked Fortuna standing on a globe surrounded by allegorical figures including: Abundance, Fame, War, Blind Fury, Stupidity, Pride, Envy, Love and Lust. Far left, the banished Religion accompanied by an angel and a child with a lamb and Bible sitting in the light of the All-Seeing Eye. In the background on the right, a temple in Rome where a wolf or fox sits as pope on the throne, surrounded by monsters. In the foreground on the right, a bishop with an acolyte at a chest with Roman paraphernalia and monsters from hell.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Credit lineAnti-roomse spotprent op de verkiezing van een paus, mogelijk ca. 1758. 1758. anonymous. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

Similar works