Saint Joseph

Abstract

Created in 1730, this wooden sculpture of Saint Joseph is attributed to Domenico di Venuta, a sculptor from Bagnoli Irpino. Domenico trained in Rome and Florence before establishing himself in Naples. He is closely associated with the celebrated Giacomo Colombo, and possibly later with Nicolò Fumo, a sculptor to the Habsburg court. In this work, Saint Joseph is depicted in half-length, tenderly supporting the Christ Child with his right arm while holding a staff in his left. Both Joseph and Christ have halos that radiate like stars, emphasizing their sacred status. Some surface grime has accumulated in the folds around the Child’s legs, and Saint Joseph’s mantle bears light scratches, but the overall integrity of the work remains intact. Today, the sculpture is displayed in the Museo d’Arte Sacra Don Clemente Confalone in Maiori. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.