Focus on Veiled Christ and discuss the abstract.
Veiled Christ (Italian: Cristo velato) is a carved marble sculpture by the Neapolitan artist Giuseppe Sanmartino (1720-1793) completed in 1753. The sculpture is formed from a single block of white marble, and was commissioned by Raimondo di Sangro, a prince of Sansevero, as the centerpiece of the Cappella Sansevero, in Naples, Italy.
It is regarded as Sanmartino’s masterpiece, largely due to the rendering of the transparent veil, and thus considered one of the world's most remarkable sculptures. Due to its life-like representation of the body of Jesus and the illusionary and trompe-l'œil veil, the sculpture was thought by many to have been created via alchemy.It is considered a masterpiece of 18th century sculpture and launched Sanmartino's career.
Raimondo di Sangro trompe-l'œil Neapolitan Naples Cappella Sansevero marble Italian alchemy Giuseppe Sanmartino