Head of Christ, a fragment of the crucifix from the Basilica of San Bernardino in L'Aquila, Abruzzo: the only surviving wooden sculpture, or rather fragment, by the architect and sculptor Lando di Pietro

In 1944, as the Allied forces were advancing towards the north of Italy, a bomb destroyed the basilica, including the crucifix that stood on the high altar. Of the sculpture only the head, parts of the knee and the left hand survive.

In one of the knees and in the head, scrolls were found bearing a prayer in the name of Lando li Pietro and the year 1338. One might say that, in compensation for the misfortune that befell the ancient church, a prayer six hundred years old was once more raised to the glory of the Lord.

Report a translation error

September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

In the finale of the Strugatskys' Roadside Picnic, the Golden Ball is told: "Happiness for everybody, free, and let nobody go away unsatisfied!" I do not promise to offend nobody, but the digest really does come free of charge. So, here is the main business of the

Frederic Leighton

Frederic Leighton. “Daedalus and Icarus”, 1869 Daedalus warns his son not to climb too high: the heat of the sun may melt the wax, but Icarus is already gazing into the distance, and the lamentations of a foolish old man interest him not in the least

Head of Christ, a fragment of the crucifix from the Basilica of San Bernardino in L'Aquila, Abruzzo: the only surviving wooden sculpture, or rather fragment, by the architect and sculptor Lando di Pietro

Read more

September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

Frederic Leighton

Attempts to resolve the problems of many years of uncontrolled mass migration

Characters from Gogol's "Petersburg Tales" on the pedestal of the monument to Nikolai Gogol on Nikitsky Boulevard, photograph of the 1960s