Portrait of Pope Paul III

This portrait of Pope Paul III, painted around 1540, is one of the earliest of Titian's several portraits of Alessandro Farnese, who served as pope from 1534 to 1549. Paul III was one of the most significant popes of the sixteenth century, initiating the Counter-Reformation, establishing the Roman Inquisition, and commissioning major works from Michelangelo. The painting is in the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan in Baku. Titian's portraits of Paul III rank among the greatest papal portraits ever painted, rivaling Raphael's Julius II in psychological depth.

The portrait captures the pope with penetrating psychological acuity, the intelligent eyes and firm set of the mouth conveying the authority and political shrewdness for which Paul III was known. The rich crimson of the papal vestments provides a warm, saturated color field that Titian exploits to brilliant effect, varying the red tones with masterful subtlety. The face is modeled with precise, blended brushwork that creates convincing three-dimensionality.

This papal portrait from 1540 is one of the most important in the history of Western portraiture. The painting has been carefully conserved over the centuries. The brilliant red pigments that dominate the composition have been well-maintained. The canvas has been relined and the surface cleaned.