Artwork
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV is an oil painting by the Art Nouveau artist Antonio Fabrés. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Pope Benedict XV seated and wearing spectacles, holding a gemstone, which serves as a symbolic reference to his ecclesiastical role and pastoral authority. The composition emphasizes his personal dignity and the formal portrait tradition of early twentieth-century ecclesiastical representation.
Technique & Style
Classified as a portrait painting, the work belongs to the Museo del Prado collection.
Antonio Fabrés executed the portrait of Pope Benedict XV in oil paint on panel in 1916, a support that allowed for the precise, finely worked handling characteristic of the artist's portrait practice. The composition is a formal seated depiction, presenting the pontiff with the attributes of office: a chair, spectacles, and a gemstone, rendered at a modest scale of 60 by 43 centimeters. Classified as a portrait painting, the work belongs to the Museo del Prado collection.
The panel medium and small dimensions are consistent with an intimate, cabinet-style format suited to detailed characterization rather than large-scale ceremonial display.
History & Provenance
The portrait was painted in 1916 by Antonio Fabrés. It entered the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains, catalogued as an oil painting on panel measuring 60 cm in height and 43 cm in width and depicting Pope Benedict XV seated with spectacles and a gemstone. No accession number or exhibition history is provided in the available records.
Overview
Antonio Fabrés created an oil-on-canvas portrait of Pope Benedict XV in 1916. Executed in the decorative language of Art Nouveau, the painting is part of the Museo del Prado’s collection. It presents the pontiff seated, his gaze directed outward, framed by richly detailed vestments.
Context
The portrait was painted during World War I, a period when Pope Benedict XV was noted for his diplomatic efforts to promote peace. Fabrés’ choice to depict the pontiff in a formal yet intimate pose reflects contemporary interest in portraying leaders as both authoritative and human.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Antoni Maria Fabrés i Costa (Spanish: Antonio Maria Fabrés y Costa; 1854–1938), also known as Antoni Fabrés, was a Catalan sculptor and painter known especially for his depictions of Orientalist and period subjects.
