V. Noto - On the iconography of the “Living Christ”: from Michelangelo to Guido Reni

In this work, the iconographic evolution of the Crucifixion scene from the Middle Ages to the beginning of the Baroque artistic production of the first half of the 17th century is briefly analyzed. The main focus is placed on the image of the “Living Crucifix” by Michelangelo between 1538 and 1541 for the Marquise of Pescara Vittoria Colonna, representing a suffering Christ on the cross without bystanders, unlike traditional crucifixion scenes.

This contribution aims to clarify the intrinsic meaning contained in the image of the Tuscan master, highlighting the literary sources and the thought that underlies the iconography and the development of this representation which, from a purely private sphere and starting from the 1570s, slowly established itself as a subject in use even in public altars, despite the fact that on August 14th, 1556, Pope Paul IV forbade by decree the representation of “Living Crucifixes”.

Iconography, living Crucifix, Michelangelo, Juan de Valdès