Francesco Piranesi - Illumination of the Holy Cross in St. Peter's
Summary
Every year on Good Friday – two days before Easter – a Holy Cross illuminated by 628 candles was hung over the nave of St Peter’s Basilica. Desprez chose an unexpected viewpoint, with the monumental pillar in the foreground and a spectacular <chiaroscuro> effect. He thus achieved this dream-like vision of the cross seemingly floating in the church’s cavernous space.
Tags
Date
1768 - 1804
Source
Rijksmuseum
Copyright info
Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication ("CCO 1.0 Dedication")