Nota: la traduzione è stata fatta in automatico con Google. Il pezzo originale si trova a questo link: http://pfranchiniblog.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/un-caravaggio-segreto-a-varese/

“Deposition” by Simone Peterzano kept at the basilica of San Vittore in Varese is also called “Pietà” and underwent a first restoration in Milan in the seventies.

What unveiled infrared reflectography who flashed took charge personally of the most sensitive, a man who died recently and I can not – for now – to make known their identity.

Photo from "Wikipedia"

An important note: some elements reveal its transparency to infrared radiation by only display the sequence of the various layers of paint. In other words, everything that is hidden under the layer visible to the naked eye. It is more of an X-ray, X-rays because the return just the layers of pigment and more radio-opaque. Can point to so-called “repentance” (ie, changes or corrections made by the painter to work already completed), but the rest are revealed almost useless.

In short, during the first restoration, reflectography showed that this picture was painted by Simone Peterzano just to cover a “Magdalene” by Caravaggio. The student who told me the secret on his deathbed, attributed it to the Master in this way. Indeed, to be precise, as “The Magdalene’s tomb.”

John, 20, 1: “On the day after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone was rolled away.”

This painting is a replica of another “Deposition” always Peterzano, preserved in Milan in the church of San Fedele. Although it lacks the vertical and developments on the figure of Veronica, is virtually identical. The scene kept the work in Varese is concentrated in the lower half and is characterized by muted colors.

Photo: Massimo De Candido

Compared to the original painting, then, the presence of the cave is like spreading and devouring the light. In its last report, the student wrote that the Peterzano had made this choice only to make less pronounced the folds of tissue and mannered off the stamps, but the reality is very different: the pupil had surpassed the teacher, it was this which the painting by Caravaggio was hidden by this work.

The colors were used to leaden Peterzano just swallow the extraordinary light of the “Magdalene”, to deny it forever in the eyes of the world. Michelangelo Merisi stayed in the shop Milanese Peterzano for some time and much of his genius comes from this very permanence. Fruitful for learning, devastating for the teacher.

In a paper not yet applied, it also vaguely mentions this “Magdalene” is not said to be the same, but random is the only work stolen from the shop of Peterzano at night in winter of 1585…

The above is only for your chance acquaintance.

Nota: la traduzione è stata fatta in automatico con Google. Il pezzo originale si trova a questo link: http://pfranchiniblog.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/un-caravaggio-segreto-a-varese/