The Vatican's newest official court artist Natalia Tsarkova poses with her pet owl next to a painting of Pope John Paul II on December 18, 2012 in her studio by Rome. After Michelangelo and Raphael, the Vatican's newest official court artist is something of an unusual choice -- an ebullient Russian woman with a pet owl who meets cardinals and popes on a daily basis.
{"Image ImageDescription": "The Vatican's newest official court artist Natalia Tsarkova poses with her pet owl next to a painting of Pope John Paul II on December 18, 2012 in her studio by Rome. After Michelangelo and Raphael, the Vatican's newest official court artist is something of an unusual choice -- an ebullient Russian woman with a pet owl who meets cardinals and popes on a daily basis. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI        (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)", "Image Copyright": "2012 AFP"}