Enrico Pambianchi, Innocenzo X, collage, oil, resin, acrylic, pencil, chalk on paper, 78x107 cm

The Velazquez's painting, one of the most important of the Doria Pamphilj Collection and one of the most beautiful portrait of the XVII century, represents Giovanni Battista Pamphilj, who was pope Innocenzo X  from 1644 to 1655. The portrait doesn't hide the ugliness of the pope, his satirical, rough, horrible appearance similar to an evil spirit. The result is a masterpiece, where Velazquez has preserved this dour face with a deep gaze. Pambianchi increases these negative features, painting the pope as a deformed person, with a big head and a sick mind. In this work the pope is angry, maybe he's swearing at the observer, he is wounded at the left arm and his right hand is separated from the body. Behind him there is a strong primate, an angry and powerful gorilla that nobody wants to face. Celestial power and terrestrial power together in an artwork where the protagonists are "the thew and the triumph".Through the figure of sarcasm the artist mocks the subject. For the realization of the piece of art he uses the collage technique and different materials (oil, resins, acrylic, pencils and chalk) that make the work refined and elegant. The result is a deformed image, outcome of an unlikely vision and a meticulous technique.

The work is signed in the lower right corner. 

Text by arch. Maurizio Bonizzi.