The official portrait of Benedict XVI.
Posted by Terry Nelson on Dec 16th, 2007

Artist to the Popes.
Last week, the painter Natalia Tsarkova presented the Holy Father with his official portrait, which she had been commissioned to paint. The highly accomplished, Russian-born artist’s portfolio includes previous formal Papal portraits and paintings, commissioned by John Paul II and the Vatican. She has a well deserved reputation as a modern master. I believe it is Tsarkova shown here applying the finishing touches to the portrait.
[Thanks to Fr. Ray Blake for the photo.]