10. The Crucifixion. This subject was treated at Varallo not by
Tabachetti but by Gaudenzio Ferrari. It confirms therefore my opinion as
to the designer of the Saas chapels to find in them no trace of the
Varallo Crucifixion, while the kind of tunic which at Varallo is only
found in chapels wherein Tabachetti worked again appears here. The work
is in a deplorable state of decay. Mr. Selwyn has greatly improved the
arrangement of the figures, but even now they are not, I imagine, quite
as Tabachetti left them. The figure of Christ is greatly better in
technical execution than that of either of the two thieves; the folds of
the drapery alone will show this even to an unpractised eye. I do not
think there can be a doubt but that Tabachetti cut this figure himself,
as also those of the Magdalene and St. John, who stand at the foot of the
cross. The thieves are coarsely executed, with no very obvious
distinction between the penitent and the impenitent one, except that
there is a fiend painted on the ceiling over the impenitent thief. The
one horse introduced into the composition is again of the heavy Flemish
type adopted by Tabachetti at Varallo. There is great difference in the
care with which the folds on the several draperies have been cut, some
being stiff and poor enough, while others are done very sufficiently. In
spite of smallness of scale, ignoble material, disarrangement and decay,
the work is still striking.
11. The Resurrection. There being no chapel at Varallo with any of the
remaining subjects treated at Saas, the sculptor has struck out a line
for himself. The Christ in the Resurrection Chapel is a carefully
modelled figure, and if better painted might not be ineffective. Three
soldiers, one sleeping, alone remain. There were probably other figures
that have been lost. The sleeping soldier is very pleasing.
12. The Ascension is not remarkably interesting; the Christ appears to
be, but perhaps is not, a much more modern figure than the rest.
18. The Descent of the Holy Ghost. Some of the figures along the end
wall are very good, and were, I should imagine, cut by Tabachetti
himself. Those against the two side walls are not so well cut.
14. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The two large cherubs here are
obviously by a later hand, and the small ones are not good. The figure
of the Virgin herself is unexceptionable. There were doubtless once
other figures of the Apostles which have disappeared; of these a single
St. Peter (?), so hidden away in a corner near the window that it can
only be seen with difficulty, is the sole survivor.
15. The Coronation of the Virgin is of later date, and has probably
superseded an earlier work. It can hardly be by the designer of the
other chapels of the series. Perhaps Tabachetti had to leave for Crea
before all the chapels at Saas were finished.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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