scuola bergamasca

Refined oil on canvas portrait depicting the Ambrosian presbyter Antonio Tommaso Volpi (1720–1797), a prominent figure in the religious and cultural life of 18th-century Lombardy, as well as parish priest of Villasola and later of Osio Sopra. Author of theological texts and protagonist of the diffusion of the relics of saints through printing, Volpi played a central role as parish priest in Osio Sopra, where he promoted the construction of the new parish church. The painting, presumably commissioned in the parish environment between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, presents a solemn compositional setting, conforming to the canons of post-Baroque religious portraiture. The composition is symmetrical, with the face in a frontal position and a serene but authoritative expression. Elements that recall Bergamasque religious portraiture, approaching the style of the Lombard masters of the 18th century. In the background, a bookcase with well-represented volumes testifies to Volpi's cultural level. Artistic features: Technique: oil on relined canvas State of conservation: good, with signs of aging compatible with the era Original coeval frame in gilded wood Dimensions cm: artwork 98x73 with frame 108x83 The portrait, accompanied by a commemorative Latin epigraph, testifies to the prestige acquired within the community and the cultural function of sacred painting in consolidating clerical memory. Volpi was known for his commitment to the dissemination of theological literature and the relics of saints through printing. His thought approached Jansenist orientations, and his works were the subject of doctrinal debate. Translation of the epigraph Antonio Tommaso Volpi of Villa Solius, then of Osio Sopra, superior parish priest, illustrious for literature and theological disciplines, meritorious to his homeland for the bodies of the saints vindicated through printing, died on June 17, 1797 at the age of 77 years. The new parish church was built as well as the rectory. The Figure of Antoni Tommaso Volpi An eminent figure of the 18th-century ecclesiastical world, Volpi was a parish priest and theologian appreciated for his literary acumen and commitment to the protection of sacred heritage. He distinguished himself for his theological thought, in particular as an interpreter of Jansenism. Originally from Somasca, he was parish priest of Villasola, of Cisano Bergamasco, from 1752 to 1766, and subsequently of Osio Sopra (BG) from 1766 to 1797, where he led the construction of the new parish church dedicated to San Zeno. He contributed to the diffusion of the relics of saints through printing, a practice then crucial for popular devotion and religious identity. The construction of the new parish church and rectory testifies to the tangible mark left in his community. He died on June 17, 1797 at the age of 77, leaving a spiritual and cultural legacy celebrated by the epigraph that was dedicated to him in this painting.