FNetti

Death of St. Joseph Calasanz (sketch I), 1859

Oil on canvas, cm 22x41

Bari, Pinacoteca Metropolitana “Corrado Giaquinto”

In 1957 Stefano Tramonte purchased this work and now it is preserved in the Art Gallery “Corrado Giaquinto” in Bari. This is one of two sketches of the homonymous painting created by Francesco Netti, on commission from the Rector of the Collegio degli Scolopi in San Carlo alle Mortelle in Naples, for the Institute Chapel, where the artist gets classical studies. The first sketch dates back to 1859, detaching itself both from the final version of the painting and the second sketch: there are some differences in the composition, for details, the friars’ attitude and the Saint himself, as well as the elaboration of the space. On the other hand, there is a stylistic closeness with Domenico Morelli’s sketches, particularly the preparatory work for the frescoes of Saint Francesco of Gaeta (1857-1858).

The second sketch, more than the first, seems to get closer to the final version of the painting, for the dying Saint’s attitude, despite the friars and the composition of the space, which seem further away.