Pope Clement X 1665 - 1675

This bronze portrait of Pope Clement X was made by Girolamo Lucenti, an artist working in Rome. He was one of many sculptors fulfilling commissions for the Papal court in the seventeenth century. The image presents the Pope in profile, a visual code often associated with power and authority, echoing ancient Roman coinage. The inscription around the edge, "Clemens X Pont. Max.," leaves us in no doubt as to the sitter’s elevated status as a powerful figure in the Catholic church and head of the Papal States. Lucenti was a prominent sculptor in his time, connected to an institution that employed artists to glorify its leaders. A modern understanding of this work depends on historical context and a study of sources. Knowing more about Lucenti’s professional network and the politics of Papal Rome help us to fully appreciate the portrait’s original meaning.