Imposing Renaissance fresco figure of St Christopher carrying the Christ Child across a river, painted, dated 1493 and signed by itinerant Lombardic artist Dionisio or Dionysius Baschenis, on the west front of the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate at Pelugo, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. Baschenis family members painted the church inside and out over several decades.
Pelugo, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy: Saint Christopher holds a sprouting staff as he fords a river with the Christ Child weighing heavily on his shoulder: detail of faded and damaged Renaissance fresco, signed and dated in 1493, on the west front of the Gothic Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate (Church of Saint Anthony the Abbot) in the scenic Val Rendena. The depiction of the early Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers and pilgrims occupies most of the area to the right of the Gothic portal. The giant figure is large enough to be visible from far away. He wears typical Renaissance costume of a short belted tunic, puff sleeves and a short cloak as he stands with his gaze fixed on the surrounding countryside. The artwork is by Dionisio or Dionysius Baschenis, who came from a family of itinerant Lombardic artists, based near Bergamo, who decorated dozens of churches throughout Trentino with Renaissance biblical frescoes. Other family members who painted the church in the late-1400s and early-1500s include Cristoforo I Baschenis, who signed and dated a 1474 fresco of St Anthony the Abbot, his brother, Simone, who completed some of the facade frescoes and Cristoforo II Baschenis (documented 1472-1520). The early-15th century church at Pelugo and the Chiesa di San Viglio at Pinzolo, which displays a dramatic external ‘Dance of Death’, are the best-known churches frescoed by the Baschenis painters in the Val Rendena area. The Baschenis artists were among groups of nomadic artisans who travelled all over the Alpine region, working mostly in small churches in isolated mountain villages. Although they painted popular images rather than fine art, their works helped communicate Bible stories and the Christian message to the villagers.
Size: 2364px × 3552px
Location: Pelugo, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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