Statue of the Immaculate Conception
Confraternity of Immacolata - Diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli
Casarano (LE)
The image of the Immaculate Conception, kept in the homonymous confraternity church of Casarano, is a wooden work, most likely dating back to 1700 and attributable, according to recent studies, to the well-known Neapolitan artist Domenico Di Venuta. The Immaculate Conception of Casarano, one of the best works of this famous seventeenth-century sculptor, represents the Virgin with her hands and face stretched high, in an attitude of ecstasy, who rests her feet on the globe, supported by cherubs, while crushing the head of the snake. Very interesting is the color scheme of the draperies that make up the figure, certainly posthumous to the working of the statue but of considerable visual impact. It is carried in procession on 8 December, on the day of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, but in the past it was also carried on the occasion of the feast of the Madonna della Campana, co-patroness of Casarano. It is the object of fervent devotion on the part of the entire population of Casarano: the crowded December novena held in the chapel is testament to it, where hundreds of faithful flock to praise Mary.
Immaculate - (Puglia)
Brotherhood of Immaculate
Typology: Statue
Measures:
Dating: 1700
Author: Domenico Di Venuta
Matter and technique: Wood
Subject: Immaculate Conception
Description: The image of the Immaculate Conception, kept in the homonymous confraternity church of Casarano, is a wooden work, most likely dating back to 1700 and attributable, according to recent studies, to the well-known Neapolitan artist Domenico Di Venuta. The Immaculate Conception of Casarano, one of the best works of this famous seventeenth-century sculptor, represents the Virgin with her hands and face stretched high, in an attitude of ecstasy, who rests her feet on the globe, supported by cherubs, while crushing the head of the snake. Very interesting is the color scheme of the draperies that make up the figure, certainly posthumous to the work of the statue but of considerable visual impact. It is carried in procession on 8 December, on the day of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, but once it was also carried on the occasion of the feast of the Madonna della Campana, co-patroness of Casarano. It is the object of fervent devotion on the part of the entire Casaranese population: proof of this is the crowded December novena held in the chapel, where hundreds of faithful flock to praise Mary.