screaming popes

• #art
• #religion

A series of paintings by mid-century British-Irish artist Francis Bacon. He called them a study, and produced several works as part the collection. They depict a pope, usually sitting in a chair or posing for a portrait, but rather than a sense of calm or collectedness, the pope is screaming or expressing fear or anger.

The first of these paintings, pictured above left, is titled Study after Velázquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X.