Verkiezing van een nieuwe paus 1700 - 1705

Hendrik Elandt made this print showing the election of a new pope. We see the stages of the papal conclave, from the cardinals entering seclusion to the new pope's first appearance. This image was made in the Dutch Republic, probably in the late 17th century, a time of religious division in Europe. The papacy was a powerful political institution, and the election of a new pope was a major event. The Dutch Republic, a Protestant country, had a complex relationship with the Catholic Church and the papacy. Prints like this offered viewers a glimpse into a world that was both familiar and foreign. It satisfied a kind of public curiosity about the Vatican. To understand this print fully, we might explore the history of the papacy, Dutch-Vatican relations, and the role of print culture in shaping public opinion. These kinds of research resources help contextualize our understanding and show how art is contingent on social and institutional context.