The Veiled Christ in Naples

Italy is a wonderful place to visit, both for the places that offer breathtaking landscapes and for the historic cities that have shaped Italian cultural identity and helped to reinforce the glory of the Christian faith.

Naples, famous throughout the world, is one of those places that has so much to offer tourists.  You have the sea at your feet, the mountains behind you, castles and palaces, museums, historic sites, but above all unique works of art such as the Veiled Christ in Naples.

Its history has often been the subject of debate, involving religion, paganism, alchemy and legends. This sculpture has been at the centre of many miracles; today, thousands of tourists prepare to visit the statue every day.

You simply cannot miss the Veiled Christ in Naples. 

The Veiled Christ in Naples is a mysterious work, as it was often assumed to be a corpse that had been subjected to the ‘alchemical’ process of marbling at the time. Prince Sansevero – the patron – studied, as was probably the case with many others at the time, corpses, amongst other things. As can be seen today in his museum. 

This assumption was a misconception that had persisted amongst the Neapolitans for over 200 years, until recent studies – which have characterised the search for answers regarding the Veiled Christ in Naples – demonstrated that it is simply a sculpture carved from a single block of marble. Its sculptor is Giuseppe Sanmartino, who was commissioned to create this work in 1752, with the specific request to create a ‘Christ’ that embodied the soul and the drama of death through the shroud.

As for some of the legends that arose following the miracles said to have taken place in the presence of this sculpture, it is said in Naples: ‘If the Veiled Christ looks at you from beneath his shroud, he has answered your prayer!’

A ‘saying’ that also emphasises the transparency of the shroud. It is a marble veil, always carved from a single block. Here you can see the face of Christ with his eyes closed, which, in a magical or miraculous way, opens to the most devout believers.

The statue stays with you; it is said that the brilliant sculptor imbued it with the pain and suffering that Christ endured, whilst others say they sense an infinite sense of calm and peace. It is true that the statue has an almost shocking effect on many visitors: before them lies a marble veil resting on a cushion, which curves slightly beneath the victim’s head; the veil is so light that it reveals not only the main contours of the body, but also the facial features, muscles and veins…. Finally, as if the master still needed to let off steam, one corner of the veil is adorned with crocheted patterns that cascade down the side….

A fascinating work that raises further questions – why are we unfamiliar with this name? Why is a comparatively poorly proportioned and dull, almost primitive David and its creator so well known, whilst we have neither heard of Sanmartino nor do we have any works by him that are similarly sophisticated? We are therefore left with the Christ in Naples. 

Naples attracts countless tourists to the city every year; many come to visit the iconic monuments of this beautiful Neapolitan city, whilst others simply come to enjoy a pleasant holiday. Worried about the stress and queues? The best option is to rent a holiday flat or holiday home near the Sansevero Chapel and book online. Closed on Tuesdays; otherwise open between 9.00 and 18.30, and on Saturdays until 20.30.