So this has bugged me since around 1990. My college library had old records you could borrow. I took out a record of Palestrina I think (or some other medieval religious choral music). The record itself was pretty old...like 1950s or 60s.
The jacket cover was a two tone image, yellow-tinted black and white photo. The image was from inside St Peter's Basilica facing the altar.
In the image I was surprised to see a massive painting, maybe 30 or 40 feet high, but instead of classical or iconic imagery it was a tall portrait of someone exiting an automobile.
The vehicle in the painting was the type of car you might see in the 1920's, where the headlights were on posts attached to the front fenders.
Here is an image of the location the portrait appeared to be.(green outline) Maybe not that exact corner but one of those four corners facing the altar...most likely, from my recollection, the painting was actually in a similar place but probably at the corner where the photo above was taken from.
The portrait seemed so out of place as the imagery seemed to venerate some 20th century person and was not of a religious nature or classical appearance. (If I recall correctly it was just a man in suit stepping from the passenger side door.) But also of interest was the incredible size of the portrait. This painting was like 15 x 30 feet at least, possibly larger. I do believe it was a framed portrait and not just some hanging banner.
The vehicle looked something like this.
Pardon hideous ms paint...but the basic composition was like so...
Again for clarity...the photo of the basilica was probably contemporary to the recording. The record itself was from the 50s or early 60s so I imagine if this portrait ever was displayed it was somewhere in that time frame.
Nothing of major import or consequence but it has irked me for decades. After the internet got going I have searched for it several times with no luck.
Just a curiosity. Would be very cool to track it down and to put this minor mystery to rest.
EDIT: When searching "St Peter's Basilica 1960" I do see some video stills. Perhaps there was a temporary event or celebration honoring someone? Hope that helps stir some ideas. Pope seating at throne. Maybe some kind of special event used a temporary portrait? Royal visit etc...
Hi there, Not sure if this will help but I do know that sometimes they hang banners for events in the Basilica. I have been there twice, once in 2007 and once in 2014, and from what I know about the Basilica and what my art history teacher told us they haven't changed almost anything inside since the 18th century (excluding things like Pope John Paul II's shrine on the right side which was structured in the 90's I believe).
The most plausible thing is that the jacket was altered so it looked like it was on the wall.
