[Chris Saper]

I agree that this is a completely gorgeous painting. But I disagree on this: if you handed me the finished piece, without the flesh, no one would ever confuse my strokes with Nelson Shanks'.

I have to add a comment on how masterfully the vantage point was considered. This is the only possible view that would show the Pope in an unstooped position. In fact it's quite a grand encompassing gesture.