Pontifical Ceremony in SS. Giovanni e Paolo, Venice, 1782
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
unframed: 51.4 × 68.8 cm · framed: 69.2 × 87 × 11.4 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of the Hanna Fund
Accession Number
1949.187.2
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
The second scene in the series depicts Pius VI celebrating mass in the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, one of the largest churches in Venice and the pope’s residence during his stay. The mass included a performance of the Te Deum, a prayer of thanksgiving set to music by the Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741). Traditionally, the Te Deum was recited in thanks to God for a special blessing, including a papal election or a royal coronation, and thus was appropriate for this historic ...