During the evening of July 6, 2023, at the prestigious London auction house Christie's, a wonderful work was presented to art lovers: The Crucifixion by Beato Angelico (Dominican friar who lived between 1395 and 1455). The painting was the protagonist of the Old Master Part 1 auction, estimated between 4 and 6 million pounds. However, it is worth specifying that of all the works by Angelico, this, from the year 2000 to today, is only the third to go to auction.
This artistic jewel was discovered in 1996 by the scholar, and now vice president of Christie's, Francis Russell who wrote an essay on the subject published by Burlington Magazine in May of the same year, arousing great curiosity and interest on the part of many art historians. Regarding the dating, several scholars have hypothesized that the gold-ground work on wood dates back to between 1419 and 1424, and is therefore a youthful work.
Specifically, it is part of a devotional triptych and constitutes the central part. Furthermore, it seems to have been purchased on the Italian market around the mid-1800s by Lord Ashburton, a noble collector who died in 1864, and the work subsequently came to "the current owners by descent".
The depiction, in which gold dominates the background, features the Crucified Christ in the center, already dying, with blood gushing from his side, while from his nailed hands and feet it flows onto the wood of the cross. On the sides of Christ are depicted two angels in flight with their hands clasped, as a sign of desperation, even if their faces are not well defined in their expressions. In the upper part of the painting there is a small nest with the figure of a pelican, a Christological symbol that gives its blood and life itself for its children. On the left is depicted the Mother: on her face you can read the pained expression, with the detail of her gaze towards the viewer, and her arms outstretched to the cross, as if to highlight the sacrifice of the Divine Son to save humanity. On the right, Saint John is depicted in three-quarters; only a part of his face is visible, from which you can notice his expression of resignation and sadness. Finally, in the centre, in the desperate gesture of embracing the cross and with her gaze directly turned towards her Master, the wonderful figure of Magdalene is depicted, recognisable by her long loose hair.
The work in question was made available to the public in New York from 10 to 14 June, then returned to London to be presented at the auction, on display from 1 to 6 July.
Ultimately, the auction presentation of the youthful painting ended with a sale of 5 million pounds, a figure never reached before in reference to the works of the friar - painter, who gave the world another masterpiece born from his ... angelic hands.
Article by Benedetta Clementoni