Lamentation over the Body of Christ – Scipione Pulzone da Gaeta (1593)
This altarpiece was commissioned for the Chapel of the Passion in the Church of the Gesù in Rome, the spiritual heart of the Jesuits. Pulzone abandons complex Mannerist poses to adopt a quieter, meditative style aligned with the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. The composition—dominated by Christ’s pale body at the center—invites contemplation. Details such as the Virgin’s tears, the crown of thorns held by Saint John, and the suspended atmosphere reflect a Counter-Reformation realism that rejects artistic flamboyance in favor of inward devotion.
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