Martino Spanzotti
(working between 1490-1500)
Christ on the Sarcophagus and Four crying Angels,
Torino, Museo civico d’arte antica and Palazzo Madama
The board, which seems to mirror a pattern
that does not include renaissance innovations, is a devotional
work, which means to bring the viewer to a real participation
to the event of Jesus’ Passion. Everything has been
accomplished; we can see only Christ, sitting on the edge of a
sarcophagus, and surrounded by crying angels. The
background is red-brown and highlights Jesus’ bright
complexion. It gives the whole composition a shade that
recalls the colour of blood.
Listening to the painting
Angel below, on the left: “O Lord, what did men do to you?
You crowned them with the honour of being called children of
God and they gave you a crown of thorns. You put freedom in
their hands and they pieced yours with nails. You gave them
eternal life becoming a man, and they took away from you the
human life you had chosen. You soothed their thirst of
infinity, and they made you drink vinegar. You gave
them wine, which is your blood and memory of your life, and
they spread your blood hurting you with swords and nails. O
Lord, be merciful and forgive them.”
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