The Crucifixion

The Sacred
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about the SacredThe painting shows a crucified Christ with a bleeding wound on his breast and the nails stuck on his hands and feet; his body is totally pale and his head is leaning backwards. Mary Magdalene, kneeling at Christ’s feet and softly touching the cross, can be clearly identified from her long fair hair. On the right, Mary is leaning one hand on the cross, addressing her sorrowful look to Christ ,while the other hand is pointing to the ground. Mary of Cleofe is standing on her right, bending her head in a composed pain.

Collegio della Guastalla
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about Collegio GuastallaThe Crucifixion was mentioned in the archives of Collegio Guastalla in 1768, originally placed in the Chapel , over the door of the so called “ Comunicatorio”.

Curiosity
Presumably this work of art, up to now considered as anonymous, was painted by Carlo Donelli (named Vimercati- Milan 21st September 1661, Milan 20th September 1715). He was a Lombard artist particularly well known in the area of Milan. He was also the court painter of the Borromeo Family who he was commissioned by to make several works for Isola Bella and for Palazzo Arese Borromeo in Cesano Maderno. His pseudonym is probably due to the original town of his family, Vimercate. The late assignment of the painting is justified with the comparison with the other works made by the artist: as a matter of facts this work of art seems to show the same eccentric style of the painter’s mature production.


Colour ranges

Dark shades dominate the whole painting, only Christ’s body, some details in the faces and the women’ bodies stand out in the darkness, as a result of the use of some light shades. The stark chromatic contrasts of white and red create a high emotional tension.

Analysis of light

The painting is characterised by a violent contrast of light and dark, remarkably underlined by the state of conservation which does not allow to see clearly the background and emphasises its dramatic subject. The source of light comes from the right side, lighting up Christ’s body and other slight details.

Study of the composition

The painting shows some peculiar traits of Carlo Donelli’s style: the typology of the faces, the delicate gestures of the characters, the bold structure of the whole work of art, the shaded chromatism with sudden flashes of light and dark. Christ is in the middle of the picture, his arms drawing a symmetric semicircle compared to the central point, the characters all standing along a diagonal line. The point of view of the painting moves from the bottom to the top, which makes of it an example of bold work of art.

Carlo Donelli (called "il Vimercati") late XVII century - beginning of XVIII century oil on canvas 182x118 cm