Artwork
Copy after Calling of the Apostoles, Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Sistine Chapel, Vatican (Rome)
Copy after Calling of the Apostoles, Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Sistine Chapel, Vatican (Rome) is a watercolor work on paper by the Early Renaissance artist Domenico Ghirlandaio. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Fattorini copied Ghirlandaio’s 1481 fresco scene by scene, brushstroke by brushstroke.
This watercolor shows a crowd of men in robes, arms raised toward Jesus. The scene is busy but orderly, with bright colors and sharp lines. You can almost hear the quiet hum of conversation.
Fattorini copied Ghirlandaio’s 1481 fresco scene by scene, brushstroke by brushstroke. Most 1800s artists never saw the real Sistine Chapel murals. They relied on prints like this one.
Look next at Ghirlandaio, Domenico.
Overview
This watercolour is a meticulous copy of Domenico Ghirlandaio's fresco in the Sistine Chapel, created by Eliseo Fattorini in 1872 for the Arundel Society.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts the Calling of the Apostles, a pivotal moment in Christian narrative, with a crowd of robed figures reacting to Jesus. The composition is characterized by a sense of order and vibrant colours.
Technique & Style
Fattorini's watercolour is a faithful reproduction of Ghirlandaio's original fresco, capturing its visual elements with precision. The use of bright colours and sharp lines conveys a sense of serenity and activity.
History & Provenance
The watercolour was commissioned by the Arundel Society, an organization dedicated to promoting knowledge of art through reproductions. Fattorini's copy was made nearly four centuries after Ghirlandaio's original fresco, painted in 1481 as part of the Sistine Chapel's decoration.
Context
The Arundel Society's efforts reflected a growing interest in Renaissance and pre-Renaissance art during the 19th century. Fattorini's copy helped disseminate Ghirlandaio's work to a wider audience, as many artists of the time relied on reproductions to study famous artworks.
Artist & collection
Artist
Domenico di Tommaso Curradi di Doffo Bigordi (2 June 1448 – 11 January 1494), professionally known as Domenico Ghirlandaio (also spelt as Ghirlandajo), was an Italian Renaissance painter born in Florence.
Copy after the Punishment of the Rebels ( Destruction of Koran, Dathan and Abirim ), Sandro Botticelli in the Sistine Chapel (Rome)
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