Portrait of Pope Innocent XI 1698

Pierre-Etienne Monnot created this marble relief portrait of Pope Innocent XI sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Monnot, a French sculptor working in Rome, captures the profile of a man who led the Catholic Church through a period of intense political and religious conflict. Innocent XI's papacy was marked by his staunch opposition to Louis XIV of France and his efforts to reform the Church. His legacy is complex, encompassing both spiritual leadership and involvement in the power struggles of European monarchs. The choice of marble, a material often associated with permanence and classical ideals, elevates the sitter. Yet, the intimate scale and the delicate carving soften the image, inviting a more personal contemplation of the man behind the office. This work reflects the intersection of religious authority, artistic expression, and the complex negotiations of identity within the Baroque period.