Illumination of the Holy Cross in St. Peter's

Francesco Piranesi, Louis Jean Desprez, 1768 - 1804

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.

  • Artwork typeprint
  • Object numberRP-P-1968-20
  • Dimensionsheight 676 mm x width 468 mm
  • Physical characteristicslijnets, met de hand gekleurd in waterverf