A cardinal of the Barbarigo family received in audience by the pope. Study for a fresco in Villa Barbarigo, Noventa Vicentina 1556 - 1629

Antonio Aliense sketched this study with pen and grey ink for a fresco destined for Villa Barbarigo, capturing a scene of a cardinal of the Barbarigo family being received by the Pope. The dominant symbol here is the papal tiara, a potent signifier of authority and spiritual power. The raised hand of the Pope, a gesture of blessing or command, echoes across centuries, recalling similar gestures in ancient Roman art, where emperors extended their hands to address their legions. This motif, laden with the weight of history, resurfaces in Christian art to denote divine approval, and reappears during secular ceremonies and political events. Such gestures tap into a deep well of collective memory, evoking both reverence and awe. The emotional power of this image resides in the Pope’s authoritative stance, which embodies the complex interplay between spiritual and temporal power. The image's cyclical progression reveals how symbols are continually reinterpreted, illustrating the enduring power of visual language to convey and transform meaning across time.