To the Calvary with Madaleine

To the Calvary with Maddalena is a superb and impressive original oil painting on canvas, realized by the Italian artist Ippolito Borghese  (Sigillo, 1568 - after 1627).

Original title:   Andata al Calvario con l'incontro con la Maddalena e Porta Capuana sullo sfondo  (W ent to the Calvary with the meeting with Maddalena and Porta Capuana in the background ) .

Signature not completely readable on the column of the background " Hyp B(..)e faciebat ".

The author of the painting can be identified with the person of Ippolito Borghese , a talented artist of Umbrian origins active mainly in Naples.

As regards the  dating  of execution of this artwork, it could correspond to the first years of the XVII century in Naples, as the background demonstrates with the detail of the Capuana Door.

This a rare artwork  from the very limited Borghese's production . There is another Borghese's artwork, the only other one known:  Went to the Calvary  in the Madonna del Rosario e Santi Church in Rogoledo di Cosio, executed in 1606.

During the first two decades of the seventeenth century, Borghese's painting in Naples appears as the most purified and daily version of naturalism. Comparing his production to that of Caravaggio, we understand that his artworks suited the demands of the religious commissioners of the altarpieces.

Reference bibliography : P. L. de Castris, La pittura del Cinquecento a Napoli (1573-1606). L'ultima maniera , 2001, pp. 285-316; F. Ferrante, Ricerche su Ippolito Borghese, in "Prospettiva" , fasc. 40, 1985, pp. 20-36.