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| Crucifixion, Mario Donizetti: 1969. |
One of the most remarkable works of art from the last Century is a “Crucifixion” (housed in The Treasury Museum of the Vatican Basilica) painted by Italian artist Mario Donizetti in 1969. Probably not since the Isenheim Altarpiece has a depiction of Christ’s last moments elicited such a visceral reaction from the viewer. This is partially due to the innovative technique used by Donizetti which includes a sort of encaustic layering of paint, varnish, and glaze – which gives the painting a remarkably old look. Yet, there is something extraordinary new here, even going beyond the masterpiece of the Isenheim Crucifixion, the Christ painted by Donizetti, is a man nakedly exposed – his pain and anguish existing simultaneously in the past and explicitly fleshy in the present. Despite the realistic and somewhat beautiful rendering of Christ’s body, it’s still a difficult artwork to look at. This is not the figure of Jesus being lovingly held by His Mother in the dimly lit stable, nor the majestic figure of Christ as He preaches the Sermon on the Mount, nor the glorious and robed visage of the Resurrected Lord – this is completely raw and unambiguous: a man who is dying in a very humiliating and agonizing manner. This is the reality that many Christians do not want to face; they want to always arrive at Easter Morning while bypassing Good Friday. In Catholicism, I see this in the late-20th Century penchant for new and refurbished church altars that lacked a Christ on the Cross; prompting a directive within the General Instruction of the Roman Missal for at least one Crucifix to be present for every Mass. Because, for many, the Passion is an uncomfortable picture; part of it is our humanly squeamish nature that instinctually revolts at the first glimpse of blood, but, it also is a prideful turning away: from a God that suffered and died for us. It’s a rejection of Christ’s humility. Because, we disparage humility in ourselves, and therefore in others – even in the Lord. Only by looking at the suffering Christ – can we ever truly Love Him. And only by truly Loving Him, can we ever hope to reach salvation.