Bust portrait of Pope Pius V in profile facing left set within an elaborate architectural structure upon which sit allegorical figures including Faith, Charity and Religion above and Justice and Prudence below who flank St Michael
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed just inside platemark): 20 7/8 × 15 13/16 in. (53 × 40.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.97.532
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking 1567 engraving by Mario Cartaro and Bartolomeo Faleti presents Pope Pius V in profile, framed by an ornate architectural niche. Above him sit the allegorical figures of Faith, Charity, and Religion, while Justice and Prudence flank St. Michael below, creating a visual celebration of papal virtue and divine authority. The large-format print, measuring over 20 inches tall, showcases the precision of engraving, a medium that allowed intricate details and wide distribution during the Renaissance. Pope Pius V, who reigned from 1566 to 1572, played a pivotal role in the Counter-Reform...