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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