Public domain
The Elevation of the Cross in St. Peter's in Rome
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Every year on Good Friday – two days before Easter – a Holy Cross illuminated by 628 candles was hung over the nave of St Peter’s Basilica. Desprez chose an unexpected viewpoint, with the monumental pillar in the foreground and a spectacular < chiaroscuro > effect. He thus achieved this dream-like vision of the cross seemingly floating in the church’s cavernous space.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionCredit lineDe verlichting van het kruis in de Sint-Pieter in Rome. 1768 - 1804. Louis Jean Desprez, Francesco Piranesi. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
