“Pope Innocent X” on Velazquez Week!
Diego Velazquez (1599-1660)—one of Spain’s greatest offerings to art—is like the topic of sharks. Why? Because much like Shark Week, Diego is getting a Velazquez Week.
His friend Ruben once told him to go to Rome to study Classic and Renaissance masters in the Vatican collection. During the visit, he happened to paint one of his greater portraits: Pope Innocent X.
In the portrait, Innocent X has a sharp look to him. It was lifelike and almost predatory. The pope himself said of it, “troppo vero,â€? which means too truthful. To me it looks like he’s getting defensive about his clothes.
“Nice garb, sir Pope, it looks expensive.”
“Oh, no it wasn’t. I got it at Century 21. Very humble prices.”
“Yeah? Let me see that receipt you’re holding.”
“NO! It was not expensive! I am Innocent! Innocent X!”
Or maybe he’s simply just trying to say that it was his mom who dressed him. That’s one of the great things art with depth has. You could find a story beyond the surface, and often what you see is a reflection of yourself. I don’t like being accused of buying expensive church clothes, and I also don’t like it when my mother dresses me.
Tomorrow, a certain painter’s reference to Mr. Velazquez’s Innocent X!
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