Francesco Raibolini, known as il Francia (Bologna, 1450 ca. - 1517)
Crucifixion with Saints John the Evangelist and Jerome
oil on panel; inv. P 77
acquisition: bequest of Luca Sgarzi to the Municipal Library of the Archiginnasio, 1850
The date of this work is disputed but is generally placed between 1485 and 1490, which makes it one of the artist’s oldest surviving works.
It originally belonged to the Bolognese humanist Bartolomeo Bianchini, whose portrait was also painted by Francia (London, National Gallery).
This Crucifixion is a key work for understanding Francia’s early career.
The artist was clearly influenced by Venetian painting (note the large space set aside for the landscape) and by Tuscan painting (note the well-defined and sharp contours).
Although the saints’ drapery is still relatively rigid, a certain softness, later to become a distinctive characteristic of Francia’s work, can already be detected in the figure and face of Christ.
