words by Elizabeth Ganley-Roper
On the 1st of March, Titian’s masterpieces, Baptism of Christ, left its home in the Pinacoteca Capitolina of Rome for the first time since 1750, to be displayed in the Cathedral of Siena to celebrate the 500th - year anniversary of its creation.
Experts believe the Baptism of Christ was painted between 1511 and 1513 and was commissioned by the Spanish merchant, Juan Ram, depicted in the lower right corning of the scene of the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist.
In 1624, records show that the painting was part of Cardinal Carlo Emanuele Pio’s collection in Rome. In 1740 the family donated the painting to the Capitolini Museums, where it has since remained.
In Siena, the Venetian master’s painting will be displayed alongside the fresco paintings in the Crypt of the Dome, discovered in 1999 during the restoration of the Cathedral. The paintings were found bellow the altar in a crypt and depict scenes from the Old and New Testament, dating back to the 13th century. The frescos were found intact thanks to the earth that protected them and conserved the brilliant hues of blue, red and gold.
The work will be on display in the Cathedral of Siena until the 31st of August.
The Crypt is open daily from 10.30 am to 7.00 pm and the entrance thicket is 8 euros (free for residents).
