What is Veiled Christ?
{{italic title}} [[File:Cappella Sansevero (15041603867) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Veiled Christ]] The '''''Veiled Christ''''' ([[Italian language|Italian]]: ''Cristo velato'') is a [[statue]] made of [[marble]]. It was made by [[Giuseppe Sanmartino]]. It is in [[Cappella Sansevero]], [[Naples]]. The [[sculpture]], made in 1753, is considered one of the world's masterpieces. [[Antonio Canova]] who once tried to acquire the work declared that he would willingly give up ten years of his own life to produce a similar masterpiece.<ref name=CRISTOa>{{cite web|language={{language|it|en}}|publisher=Museo della Cappella Sansevero|title=Cristo velato: il capolavoro|url=http://www.museosansevero.it/cappellasansevero/cristovelato/capolavoro.html|access-date=2016-05-24|archive-date=2013-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024144747/http://www.museosansevero.it/cappellasansevero/cristovelato/capolavoro.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> == History and description == The order for the Veiled Christ was given to [[Antonio Corradini]]. However, he died a short time later.<ref name=CRISTO>{{cite web|language={{language|it|en}}|publisher=Museo della Cappella Sansevero|title=Cristo velato: la statua|url=http://www.museosansevero.it/cappellasansevero/cristovelato.html|access-date=2016-05-24|archive-date=2013-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705103956/http://www.museosansevero.it/cappellasansevero/cristovelato.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sanmartino took over the work. He decided to place the Christ figure on a couch, covered by a veil. It was to show the suffering that Christ has undergone. At the sculpture's feet, finally, the artist also carves the instruments of his torture: the [[crown of thorns]], pliers, and some shackles.<ref name=CRISTO/> == Legend of the veil == [[File:Francesco de Mura - Raimondo di Sangro.png|140px|[[Raimondo di Sangro]]|thumb]] An analysis shows that the work is completely made in marble. A receipt of payment to Sanmartino dated 16 December 1752, signed by the prince, is prese