Portrait of Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere
1479
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1479
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A pope sits on a throne, his hand raised in blessing. His red robe glows with gold embroidery, and a triple crown sparkles on his head. This painting is rare—one of the few portraits of a pope made from life in the 1400s. Berruguete worked in Rome at the time, so he likely painted Sixtus IV in person. The tiny white dots on the jewels make them look like they’re catching real light. If you like this, look up *chiaroscuro*—the way artists use light and shadow to make things feel solid.
