Crucifixion Gavari by Raphel

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The crucifixion by Raphael

Raphael in 1503 returns to the theme of the Crucifixion, and this altarpiece, now preserved at the National Gallery in London, was placed on the altar, property of the family Gavari, present in San Domenico in Città di Castello.

Raffaello Sanzio set the work on two registers:

In the upper part, Christ on the cross, on his right and left, slightly lower, smaller in size, two angels collect the blood in small cups; still higher the moon and the sun, silently watching the tragedy.
In the lower part, in the foreground, at the foot of the cross, a kneeling saint Jerome and Mary Magdalene, both with the head facing up, behind, in the background, the Virgin Mary and st. John the Apostle. Raphael set the figures on two planes, being able to organize the space through the arrangement in a semi-circle, this accentuates the sense of perspective in the composition; the four figures, therefore, are arranged around the cross.

Behind it, in depth, opens with a hilly landscape, which is proportional and well-defined in dimensions, and thus well linked to the characters, Raphael, in addition, through the gradation of colors, it succeeds in making the sense of depth.

Let us dwell on the details:

In the figure of Christ, Raphael returns to the classic statuary, he makes it through the snow-white color and the light, the anatomical beauty of the body, without neglecting any detail.
The same work is done in the realization of clothes, let's look at them all, let talk about the folds of the garments, or on the expression of St. Jerome's face;

Raphael creates a bond in the characters of exteriority and interiority, the face of the saint traps the sense of pity.

Everything is organized in a perfect and harmonious way, in the work all has a very precise function, Raffaello binds to composition a naturalness, which emanates a divine tranquillity. Giorgio Vasari in his Lives, in respect to the work, writes:

<<...in San Domenico one of a Crucifix, which, if there was no written name, no one would believe the work of Raphael, but it is of Peter..>>.

Vasari clearly tells us who was the initiator of Raffaello Sanzio, that is Pietro Perugino, an apprenticeship is carried out, according to the historical sources, from 1494 to 1498; from the master inheritance the plasticity of the color, or the landscape. All this makes Raphael, a master of divine touch

(Written on the 29th of February 2016 by AntArtIco).