Ilaria del Carretto, after Jacopo della Quercia - Joseph Lindon Smith

A detailed study of the Renaissance funerary monument of Ilaria del Carretto, painted by Joseph Lindon Smith in 1892.

This work by Joseph Lindon Smith is a study of the funerary monument of Ilaria del Carretto, originally sculpted by Jacopo della Quercia in the early fifteenth century. Located in the Lucca Cathedral, the original marble effigy is a celebrated example of Italian Renaissance sculpture. Smith, an artist known for his meticulous documentation of archaeological sites and historical monuments, captures the serene expression and the soft folds of the drapery with precision. His approach focuses on the tactile qualities of the stone, using a palette of muted greys, ochres, and whites to replicate the appearance of weathered marble.

Smith spent much of his career travelling to Egypt and Italy to record ancient works. His method involved painting directly onto canvas to mimic the texture and form of the original subject. In this piece, the artist pays close attention to the details of the headpiece and the collar, which are characteristic of the period's fashion. The composition is cropped to focus on the upper torso and head of the effigy, creating an intimate perspective that allows the viewer to examine the craftsmanship of the original sculptor. The background is rendered in a wash of neutral tones, which prevents distraction from the central figure. This painting functions as a record of the sculpture as it appeared at the end of the nineteenth century, preserving the nuances of the marble surface. The work demonstrates Smith's technical ability to translate three-dimensional form into a two-dimensional medium while maintaining the gravity of the funerary subject.