Starting next Thursday, the 'Deposition' by Italian Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna will be on display at the Pinacoteca of the Vatican Museums in Rome for several months. The artwork, believed to be the original work of Mantegna, was recently rediscovered in the Sanctuary of Pompeii.
The discovery came after a search led by Stefano De Mieri, a professor of Modern Art History at Suor Orsola Benincasa University in Naples. In July 2020, while consulting the BeWeb portal—which includes the register of movable assets of Italian parishes—De Mieri found an image of a damaged 'Deposition' conserved in Pompeii. Due to the pandemic, he was able to observe the work in person only in the summer of 2021, during which he noted that the painting was significantly altered by restorations.
Upon examining the painting, De Mieri connected it to those mentioned in the essay by his mentor, Ferdinando Bologna. Versions of the 'Deposition' by Andrea Mantegna were known to exist, but they were considered later reproductions. However, the rediscovered painting exhibited high-quality artistic features, especially in the face of Mary Magdalene as she weeps, which suggested the hand of Mantegna at the peak of his activity.
After De Mieri's assessment, the 'Deposition' was taken to Rome and slowly cleaned of subsequent repaintings, revealing the original brilliance of Mantegna's work. The restoration was possible thanks to the intervention of Barbara Jatta, the director of the Vatican Museums, and Archbishop Tommaso Caputo of Pompeii. "A century and a half later, still through a painting, Pompeii adds an extraordinary trait to its history," said Archbishop Caputo, according to Avvenire.
An important historical document helps explain how the 'Deposition' arrived in Pompeii. In March 1524, the humanist Pietro Summonte wrote to his friend Marcantonio Michiel that in Naples, in the church of San Domenico Maggiore, there was an altarpiece by Mantegna depicting "Our Lord taken down from the cross and placed in a sheet." The letter is considered the main document on Neapolitan Renaissance art. Art historians believe that the painting may have been commissioned by Federico I, King of Naples, who was the uncle of Isabella d'Este, the Marchioness of Mantua and a patron of Mantegna.
Since Andrea Mantegna never traveled to Southern Italy, it is presumed that the artwork was sent to Naples, where it was installed in the Church of San Domenico Maggiore. From 1500, the painting seems to disappear from history, never being mentioned in guides and texts. In the 1800s, likely through a donation, the 'Deposition', considered a work of an unknown author, was brought to the Sanctuary of Pompeii. Over the centuries, the painting was in a state of severe deterioration due to modifications and the effects of time, having undergone heavy repaintings.
The painting is a depiction of the Deposition of Christ. The dead body of Christ dominates the scene, wrapped in a shroud and supported by grieving men. Mary is depicted at the center, in shadow, bent over herself. On the right, Mary Magdalene raises her face to the sky, crying out in pain, her face covered in tears. The background of the painting depicts the Heavenly Jerusalem, illuminated by the light of sunset, evoking ancient Rome, including the Pantheon.
The rediscovery of the 'Deposition' in Pompeii is considered a major discovery in recent years, particularly due to the unusual location of the find. Monsignor Caputo anticipates that after its exhibition at the Vatican Museums, the painting will be part of the exhibits in the central museum of the shrine in Pompeii. "Preparations are underway to welcome such an illustrious guest, which testifies that even from the perspective of pictorial art, Pompeii is a great point of reference," he said, according to Avvenire.
Work is currently underway to reorganize the space in preparation for receiving the painting after its exhibition in Rome. The painting is ready for a place of honor in a room that will include twelve other paintings, mostly belonging to the Neapolitan school of the 1600s and 1700s.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.