Oil on cardboard, 59×83 cm
1927-1928
Manciano, Collection of the City of Manciano
The work seems to be one of the early ideas for the important painting which won the Spranger Prize at the Ussi Competition in 1929, now in the church of San Leonardo in Manciano. At the centre of the scene the artist places the statue of the Dead Christ, accompanied by the parade of confraternity brothers in white robes who illuminate the space with their dazzling presence, lit up by flames of the candles they are holding. The only contrasting note, because of his dark colour, is a hooded figure seen from behind who seems to be leading the ceremony. In the foreground the painter had included perhaps another kneeling figure or a still life which he then scraped away so as to rethink the image in a more choral manner, with a greater number of participants and a refound perspectival balance.