Pope Pius VI Descending the Throne to Take Leave of the Doge in the Hall of Saints Giovanni e Paolo, 1782 and Pontifical Ceremony in Saints Giovanni e Paolo, Venice, 1782 (pair)

By Francesco Guardi, c. 1783
JPG • 2247 × 3400 PX • 2.7 MB
Curatorial Notes

From May 15-18, 1782, Pope Pius VI Braschi was in Venice, the only papal visit during the eighteenth century, an event celebrated with great festivities. Francesco Guardi (1712-1793), a native Venetian, was one of the most celebrated scenic painters of the eighteenth century, and specialized in depictions of cityscapes and the pomp and pageantry of Venetian ceremonial life. To celebrate the momentous occasion, the Englishman Peter Edwards commissioned four large scenes of the Pope's visit. The museum's two smaller paintings represent copies of the popular subject, which Guardi copied either for the open market or for other patrons. The Pontifical Ceremony (Te Deum) depicts the musical performance of Te Deum, a prayer of thanksgiving set to music by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), a famous Venetian Baroque composer. Te Deum was a traditional hymn recited in thanks to God for a special blessing, including a papal election or a royal coronation, and was appropriate for the historic papal visit. In the Reception of the Doge and Senate, the Doge, the elected prince of Venice, and Senators of the Venetian Republic process towards the throne, as the pope blesses the multitude of government leaders.

Artwork Identification

Title Pope Pius VI Descending the Throne to Take Leave of the Doge in the Hall of Saints Giovanni e Paolo, 1782 and Pontifical Ceremony in Saints Giovanni e Paolo, Venice, 1782 (pair)
Title (PT) Papa Pio VI Descendo ao Trono para Despedir-se do Doge no Salão dos Santos Giovanni e Paolo, 1782 e Cerimônia Pontifícia em Santos Giovanni e Paolo, Veneza, 1782 (par)
Title (ES) Papa Pío VI descendiendo del trono para despedirse del Dux en el Salón de los Santos Giovanni e Paolo, 1782 y Ceremonia Pontificia en los Santos Giovanni e Paolo, Venecia, 1782 (par)
Artist Francesco Guardi
Artist Bio Francesco Guardi (Italian, 1712–1793)
Date c. 1783
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta