Giuseppe Picano (Sant'Elia Fiumerapido, 1732 – ca. 1810), Raffaele Arcangelo

Giuseppe Picano (Sant'Elia Fiumerapido, 1732 – ca. 1810)

Raphael the Archangel

Polychrome wood and glass paste, cm h. 139 x 40 x 60

Critical note by Prof. Giuseppe Sava

Considered one of the most fascinating figures of eighteenth-century Naples, Giuseppe Picano distinguished himself as a supreme interpreter of wooden sculpture, capable of infusing wood with the same softness and emotional intensity as stone. Born into an artistic family, his father Francesco Antonio was also a sculptor. He was born in Sant'Elia Fiumerapido, in the present-day province of Frosinone, in 1732 and subsequently active in Naples until the early nineteenth century (he died around 1810). Picano trained at the heart of the late Neapolitan Baroque. He honed his talent under the guidance and guidance of the Neapolitans Luigi Vanvitelli and his son Carlo, later becoming the principal collaborator and close follower of Giuseppe Sanmartino, author of the famous Veiled Christ (now preserved in the Sansevero Chapel in Naples), and of Giacomo Colombo. The fruit of this successful synergy was the extraordinary nativity scene group from 1740 housed in the church of Santa Maria in Portico in Naples: a unique monumental ensemble, consisting of 24 life-size figures, still admired in their original setting. Although he worked primarily in Naples and Campania and favored wood for his sacred subjects, Picano demonstrated extraordinary versatility, also successfully experimenting with marble, terracotta, stucco, and papier-mâché. His stylistic signature is defined by a vibrant realism, evident in the expressive faces and complex chiaroscuro draperies that lend dynamism to the figures, as evidenced by the statues of saints and sacred figures inside the Church of the Santissima Annunciata in Naples. His fame led him to spread his works throughout the Kingdom, leaving testimonies of great value also in Calabria, in addition to the numerous saints and nativity scene sets that still today adorn the altars of many Neapolitan churches, confirming him as a fundamental bridge between the theatricality of the mature Baroque and the composure of the nascent Neoclassical taste.

From a technical standpoint, after carving the wood, usually soft woods like lime or poplar, Picano applied a thin linen or hemp canvas soaked in glue, which covered the grain and joints of the material. On this base, he spread numerous layers of gesso and animal glue, which were then meticulously sanded until the surface was smooth and silky, like porcelain. This preparation was essential for the rendering of flesh tones: the artist did not simply paint the surface, but created an artificial "skin" capable of reacting naturally to light. The color was applied through successive layers of oil, with a palette ranging from pearly tones for the Madonnas to browner, rougher tones for the hermit saints or prophets. To enhance realism, Picano employed the "blushing" technique: he applied shades of pink or vermilion to the knuckles, elbows, cheeks, and around the eyelids, simulating the blood flow typical of a living body. A distinctive technical detail, inherited from the great tradition of the Neapolitan nativity scene, was the insertion of back-painted crystal or glass paste eyes, as in the case of the Archangel Raphael here: they were inserted from inside the skull or fitted with extreme precision into the eye sockets, giving the statue a supernatural depth of gaze. Finally, the application of a final varnish, often made of mastic or amber, provided a subtle sheen that mimicked the natural moisture of skin and eyes, making his sculptures almost uncanny in their lifelikeness.

For Italy only: with Ars Antiqua it is possible to pay in installments up to a maximum of €7.500 at ZERO INTEREST, for a total of 15 INSTALLMENTS

E.g. Total €4.500 = Monthly installment €300 for 15 months.

E.g. Total €3.600 = Monthly installment €720 for 5 months.

For amounts exceeding €7.500 or for a longer period of time (over 15 installments), we can provide a personalized payment.

Contact us directly to get the best quote.

LIVE

– SUNDAY 17.00pm – 21.00pm Dig.terr. 126 – Sky 824

– Streaming on our website www.arsantiquasrl.com and on our social networks Facebook and Youtube

All the works proposed by Ars Antiqua are sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity in accordance with the law and an accurate information sheet.

It is possible to see the works directly at the showroom gallery in Milan, in via Pisacane 55 and 57.

We personally organize transport and deliveries of the works, both for Italy and abroad.