Two masterpieces by Bellini and Sodoma on display in Castel Gandolfo’s Apostolic Palace

Lamentation over the Dead Christ

“Bellini and Sodoma. Passion of Christ” is the theme of an exhibition that will be inaugurated on Saturday afternoon, 5 April, in Castel Gandolfo’s Apostolic Palace. The exhibition includes, Lamentation over the Dead Christ, by Giovanni Bellini, from the Vatican Pinacoteca, and the Dead Christ (supported by angels), by Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, known as il Sodoma, on loan from the Venerable Archconfraternity of Santa Maria dell’Orto in Rome.

The following will participate in the inauguration ceremony for the exhibition: Barbara Jatta, Director of Museums and Cultural Heritage, Andrea Tamburelli, Director of the Pontifical Villas, which co-promoted the exhibition, Daniela Porro, Special Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Rome, Fabrizio Biferali, Curator of the Department of XV-XVI Century Art, and Marco Pratelli of the Vatican Museum’s Painting and Wood Materials Restoration Laboratory.

Jointly promoted by the Vatican Museums and the Pontifical Villas, the exhibition was curated by the Department of XV-XVI Century Art and is part of the Lenten and Easter Liturgical season. The theme that links the two works is the Passion of Christ, in particular, meditation over Christ’s lifeless body, after his death on the Cross.

Bellini’s painting, which dates back to around 1475, was originally part of the cymatium of the main altarpiece in the Church of Saint Francis in Pesaro. It is one of the masterpieces of Italian painting.

The scene depicts the moment in which Christ’s body is lamented and anointed with perfumed oils, before his burial. There are four characters: Christ, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and Mary Magdalene, who holds one of Jesus’ hands. The scene appears vertically diminished, which is probably due to the height at which the panel must have hung. It has been on display in the Vatican Pinacoteca ever since 1820, and recently underwent restoration works led by the Vatican Museums’ laboratories.

The painting, Dead Christ (supported by angels), by il Sodoma, dates back to around 1505 and is a reflection on the suffering and lifeless body of Christ.