The Descent of Christ from the Cross, by Jacopo Tintoretto (Venice 1519 ca. – 1594) is the masterpiece at the heart of this exhibition, which serves as the starting point for a reflection that goes beyond art and history, becomes spiritual and provides us with the opportunity to dwell on the theme of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the time of Lent and Easter, during the 2025 Jubilee of Hope.
Part of the exhibition, is the section Around Tintoretto – Four Contemporary Artists Challenged by a Masterpiece, which showcases the works of Jacopo Benassi, Luca Bertolo, Alberto Gianfreda, Maria Elisabetta Novello, who have accepted the ‘challenge’ posed by the Venetian master: the Descent from the Cross is indeed a work of art that pierces space and time with its strength, putting us all to the test.
The large canvas was painted for the main altar of Santa Maria dell’Umiltà alle Zattere, the first Jesuit church in Venice, which was closed in 1806 and then demolished. The painting was acquired by the Gallerie dell’Accademia in 1821.
Dated around 1560-1562, during the painter’s mature period, the work perfectly combines emotional expressiveness, inventive originality, and technical and compositional skills. The well-thought-out scene is tragic and hectic at the same time – the movements are accentuated by a masterful use of light, which comes from an external source, producing strong chiaroscuro effects.
The resulting, intense emotional impact is emphasised by the exaggerated poses and expressions of the protagonists, who emerge from a dimly lit background.
