CARPACCIO, Vittore
(b. 1472, Venezia, d. 1526, Capodistria)

The Pilgrims Meet the Pope (detail)

c. 1492
Tempera on canvas
Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice

The scene of the meeting takes place in the bright afternoon light: to the left, the retinue of virgins is shown approaching along the path, while the English Prince and Ursula, in the centre, kneel in front of Pope Cyriacus.

The figure in red standing next to Pope Cyriacus is Ermolao Barbaro, an eminent Humanist and the Venetian ambassador to the Vatican who died in 1493 after having fallen out of grace in Venice.