Artwork
Portrait of Pope Alexander VI
Portrait of Pope Alexander VI is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Cristofano dell'Altissimo. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting, created around 1600 by Cristofano dell'Altissimo, is a portrait of Pope Alexander VI. It is part of a large series of reproductions dell'Altissimo made while working under Duke Cosimo I de' Medici.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Pope Alexander VI in profile, wearing ceremonial attire. His serious expression and directed gaze convey a sense of solemnity and authority.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil paint, the work features visible brushstrokes that add texture to the image. The muted background and the use of red and white for the subject's clothing are characteristic of dell'Altissimo's style, which is associated with the early Baroque period in Italy.
History & Provenance
The painting is one of over 280 reproductions dell'Altissimo made from Paolo Giovio's historical collection, known as the Giovio Series. Many of these works are now housed at the Uffizi Gallery.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cristofano dell'Altissimo (c. 1525 – 1605) was an Italian painter in Florence. For duke Cosimo I de' Medici he copied in Como at least 280 of the portraits from the Collection of Paolo Giovio known as the Giovio Series…
