On view
Martyrdom of Saint Justina,
1609–10
How did Procaccini imagine such theatrical lighting in the seventeenth century? It would have been hard to achieve this sharp contrast with the lighting equipment available—did he illuminate his models with sunlight, candles, or oil lamps, or create the tense lighting entirely from his imagination? The deep shadows from which the executioner emerges highlight the vulnerability of Saint Justina’s brightly lit throat; her luminous clothes seem to flow upward, almost lifting her toward the dagger. I am most fascinated by the spectacular lighting of Justina’s left
hand. Although her upper body seems to lean toward her terrible fate, her hand is etched in golden light, falling off into soft, pinky-green shadows, and perhaps held up in a gesture of refusal.
Jane Cox, Theatrical Lighting Designer and Director, Program in Theater and Music Theater, Princeton University
Information
1609–10
Europe, Milan
- Peter Cannon-Brookes, Lombard paintings, c1595-1630: the age of Federico Borromeo, (Birmingham: City Museums and Art Gallery, 1974)., p. 167; p. 166 (illus.)
- Paintings by old masters: [catalogue of an exhibition held at] P. & D. Colnaghi & Co. Ltd., 21st May to 22nd June 1974, (London: P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., 1974)., cat. no. 21; pl. XVIII
- Hugh Brigstocke, "Lombard Art in Birmingham", Burlington magazine 116, no. 860 (Nov., 1974): p. 686+688+691-692., p. 691
- Hugh Brigstocke, "Giulio Cesare Procaccini reconsidered", Jahrbuch der Berliner Museen 18 (1976): p. 84-133., p. 110-112; fig. 18
- "Acquisitions of the Art Museum 1975," Record of the Art Museum, Princeton University, 35, no. 1 (1976): p. 22-31., p. 28
- Jonathon Bober, "A "Flagellation of Christ" by Giulio Cesare Procaccini: program and pictorial style in Borromean Milan", Arte Lombarda nuova serie, No. 73/74/75 (2-3-4), (1985): pp. 55-80., p. 76, note 2
- Allen Rosenbaum and Francis F. Jones, Selections from The Art Museum, Princeton University, (Princeton, NJ: The Art Museum, Princeton University, 1986), p. 252 (illus.)
- Andreina Griseri, "Per Giulio Cesare Procaccini : "vario son da me stesso"", in Mina Gregori and Elisa Acanfora, eds., Studi di storia dell'arte in onore di Mina Gregori, (Cinisello Balsamo, Italy: Silvana, 1994)., p. 192
- Hugh Brigstocke, Procaccini in America, Nicholas H.J. Hall, (London; New York: Hall and Knight, 2002)., p. 82, no. 4; p. 81, 185 (illus.)
