View of a Seaport

Around 1611 the pope in Rome was Paul V, born Camillo Borghese, and his nephew, Cardinal Scipione, was building one of the great picture collections of the city. Scholars believe Bril painted this harbour for the pope, who then gave it to the cardinal. The big ship makes the family connection hard to miss. Two of its flags carry the Borghese arms with the saints Peter and Paul. A banner at the bow shows the Immaculate Conception, and the long white pennant streaming in the wind bears the papal keys and triple crown. Below it, dockhands, sailors and a small dog almost vanish against the cliffs, the watchtower and the town across the bay. In 1612 Scipione paid a gilder eight scudi for a fully gilded frame for what the bill called the landscape with the ship by Paolo Brillo.