The Way to Calvary
The canvas, bequeathed to the Museum by Nella Bolchini Bompiani in 2017, was painted by Gaetano Previati around 1901–1904. Previati was one of the leading figures of Italian Divisionism. His interpretation of the ascent to Calvary gives him an opportunity to explore the Virgin Mary’s profound grief and make it a symbol of humanity’s shared suffering. Mary stands at the centre of a long procession climbing Mount Golgotha. The crowd’s slow progress is rendered in elongated brushstrokes, characteristic of Divisionism, which give the figures an undulating rhythm and emphasise the upward movement of the composition. Earthy tones and warm light dominate the canvas, heightening its emotional impact.
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Artwork details
- Artist:
- Gaetano Previati (Ferrara 1852 – Lavagna, GE, 1920)
- Title:
- The Way to Calvary
- Date:
- 1901-1904
- Medium and technique:
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions:
- 80 × 150 cm
- Inventory:
- MD 2017.189.001
- Location
-
Location: Works from the Diocese, first floor
The core of the Museum’s collection consists of works from numerous churches across the vast territory of the Archdiocese of Milan, an area of great cultural and artistic richness. Before the Museum opened in 2001, surveys and site visits throughout the diocese uncovered treasures that had, in some cases, previously been unknown, and initiated a programme to recover, restore and promote this artistic heritage. The selected works included panel and canvas paintings, wooden and marble sculptures, and liturgical furnishings. These were not objects of local devotion and mostly had conservation problems, and were therefore restored, or were at risk of theft. The works are arranged chronologically, beginning on the ground floor and continuing along the central corridor on the first floor; some are displayed in the hypogeum. This core is complemented by other works that have entered the Diocesan Museum’s permanent collection over the years through loans, donations and bequests.
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