Caspar Berger

Innocenzo X

Expression of power
Diego Velázquez painted Pope Innocent X sitting powerfully on his throne in the seventeenth century. Francis Bacon’s paintings in the 20th century made clear how much that ecclesiastical power was eroding. These two works inspired me.

Minimum indication
In my version, the Pope’s lower body is missing in its entirety, as well as the jaw. Only the cloak of this Innocent X still confirms the papal mighty presence. Nothing more is needed to denote the symbol of power.