The “Christ Deposed” of the artist from Cesena Luciano Navacchia goes in Vatican. The work, a greatness of manwas presented to the press today atArt workshop by Angelo Fusconi, in Cesena, in the locality Frini Houseswhere an anthological exhibition is underway to celebrate the 50 years of artistic activity in Navacchia.
“Last Saturday – explained the painter and sculptor born in 1946 – on the occasion of diocesan pilgrimage to Rome on the bicentenary of the death of the Cesena pontiff Pius VII, I delivered a Pope francesco a letter with the desire to donate the work to him and asking for a feedback when the sculpture, which I will send in the next few days, arrives in the Vatican.”
“The Pope smiled at me. It was a strong emotion”, reveals Navacchia, describing herself as avery spiritual person, even if not very practiced”. The work, in particular, “would like to show Jesus taken down from the cross, poor, marginalized, discarded”. A sculpture “modelled and assembled day after day, with reused metal materialswithout following a sketch.”
The art critic Orlando Piraccini asked Navacchia to create the work in 2021, on the occasion of a exhibition of sacred art at the Monte Abbey promoted by Amici del Monte society. “The sculpture – explained Piraccini – was conceived as the first of a “Lament”, in line with the iconographic tradition, but different from that of Ilario Fioravanti in terms of materials and composition. The cycle hasn’t seen the light yet but the artist is working on it.”
“The hope – he added Monsignor Piero Altieri to whom we owe the idea of dedicating the work to the Pontiff – is that the sculptural group be created and placed in a place in Cesena dear to our Christian tradition, such as the church of Sant’Agostino or of the Holy Spirit. The deposed Christ will be preserved in the Vatican in the best possible way. The spirit of the work is in harmony with the teaching of Pope Francis.”
“We contacted various local entities – he revealed Luciano Almerigi, former president of the Amici del Monte society – but there was no interest in welcoming the sculpture. The bishop Douglas Regattieriwhile underlining that the initiative is independent of the Diocese, guaranteed Navacchia a place of honor at the audience on Saturday 20 April, allowing him to deliver to the Holy Father the letter in which the desire for the gift is expressed”.
“The “deposed Christ” – he recalled Angelo Fusconiowner of the private exhibition space – will be on display together with Navacchia’s other works at the Officina dell’arte, in via Madonnina 50, until Sunday May 5th. It will be possible to admire the work before it leaves for the Vatican and, next to it, a cartoon of Patrizio Virzì which shows the artist’s great effort to get his sculpture to Pope Francis”.
“In Rome – concluded Piraccini – the work will be evaluated by a special panel commission. It could be destined for a church, a museum or a palace, or kept in storage and preserved with dignity”.
Below we publish the photo gallery of yesterday’s celebrations by Sandra and Urbano photographers (Cesena).
