Pope Benedict XIV Presenting the Encyclical Ex Omnibus to the Comte de Stainville, Later Duc de Choiseul 1757

Pompeo Batoni painted this portrait of Pope Benedict XIV and the Comte de Stainville. The composition presents a hierarchical arrangement, sharply dividing the earthly and divine realms. A rich palette of gold and red dominates the lower half, contrasting the ethereal blues and pinks above. The structured organization of the painting reflects Enlightenment ideals, yet disrupts them through its overt display of religious power. The clear, rational lines of the architecture are offset by the swirling drapery and clouds, challenging any notion of fixed or stable meaning. The figures of Saint Paul and Saint Peter float above, set against the backdrop of Rome, with a beam of light, underscoring the symbolic weight of religious authority. Batoni uses the conventions of portraiture to present not just likenesses, but also complex ideas about power, knowledge, and the intersection of the sacred and secular. The painting embodies the tension between tradition and modernity, inviting ongoing interpretation.