Pope Leo XIII in sedan chair in Vatican Gardens, Vatican 1892

Enrico Nardi painted this image of Pope Leo XIII in a sedan chair in the Vatican Gardens sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The setting and accoutrements of the scene are designed to evoke a sense of timeless tradition and power. Consider the visual codes at play here. We see the Pope elevated both spiritually and literally, carried above the ground. The sedan chair itself is a symbol of authority dating back to ancient times, and its presence here reinforces the idea of unbroken lineage and divine right. The Swiss Guard, with their archaic uniforms and halberds, further add to this carefully constructed image of enduring power. Italy at this time was undergoing immense transformation. In 1870, the country was unified, stripping the Pope of the Papal States, and creating a crisis between church and state. To understand this image fully, we must turn to the archives and the historical record to understand the motivations behind such displays of power. Only then can we grasp the complex interplay between art, power, and the ever-changing social landscape.