Portrait of Pope Leo X with Cardinals Giulio de’ Medici and Luigi de’ Rossi
circa 1518
Raphael captured Pope Leo X sitting heavily in his papal robes, looking over his shoulder with a surprisingly suspicious glare while his two cardinal cousins flank him. The Pope rests his hand near a magnifying glass and an ornate silver bell, seemingly caught in a moment of unease amidst the rich red velvet and fur. Fun fact: art historians long debated whether this famous version was the original or a copy by Andrea del Sarto, until modern X-rays finally revealed Raphael's own underdrawing beneath the paint.
- Technique
- Oil on panel
Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence