Polidoro da Caravaggio's 'Way to Calvary': Technique, Style and Function

Larry Keith, Minna Moore Ede and Carol Plazzotta
Technical Bulletin Volume 25, 2004

Abstract

The painting The Way to Calvary by Polidoro da Caravaggio, was acquired by the National Gallery in 2003. The painting is one of three oil sketches, or bozzetti, for the altarpiece 'The Way to Calvary'. The painting is executed on a walnut panel. The paint layers are characterised by a restrained use of colour, which is related to the artist's having painted grisaille architectural decorations in Rome. Polidoro's use of the oil sketch is discussed in terms of being very early in the tradition of painting. This article looks at Polidoro's adoption of the techniques used in making sketches for large paintings in the latter part of his career. Polidoro da Caravaggio was a painter in Raphael's workshop. Polidoro's own style was very different from that of Raphael and came to represent southern Italian Mannerism.

Keywords 

bozzetti, oil sketches, painting techniques, palette, panel paintings, Polidoro da Caravaggio, Renaissance

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Polidoro da Caravaggio's 'Way to Calvary': Technique, Style and Function, Larry Keith, Minna Moore Ede and Carol Plazzotta (PDF 13.16MB)

To cite this article we suggest using

Keith, L., Moore Ede, M., Plazzotta, C. 'Polidoro da Caravaggio's "Way to Calvary": Technique, Style and Function'. National Gallery Technical Bulletin Vol 25, pp 36–47.
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/technical-bulletin/keith_mooreede_plazzotta2004

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