One of the main subjects of my attentions was the Sacro Monte that was high up above San Guilio on Lake Orta.
This was a most extraordinarily ambitious scheme in the C17th to stem the flood of Protest-antism that threatened to flood Northern Italy from Germany. The idea was to stem this flood with an extravagant art installation that would provoke pilgrimage and a change of attitudes in the general population.
The figure of St Francis of Assisi was used rather than Christ. St Francis had the common touch that could perhaps counter the appeal of the democratic allure of the Reformation in which scriptures appeared in the common tongue of the region and could be interpreted by individuals. St Francis preached a profound humility to the rich and also was one of the first to write in the local lingua of Umbria that was to become modern Italian. This also had its parallels with Martin Luther’s appeal to a wider readership than those versed in Latin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi
The idea was to create a spectacular set of 20 mis-en-scenes starring St Francis that were to be realised in full-sized terra cotta figures each provided with their own theatrical housing that included lavish wall and ceiling paintings on related themes. This would attract pilgrimage and promote a ‘modernised’ Catholism that was less elitist. The scenes included depictions of common people for the first time.
I found it fascinating that they thought Art had that kind of power. An audacious and spectacular scheme to change peoples thinking. In contrast to the protestant emphasis on the Word. This region of Piedemont was rich and could support the high costs involved.
Although many of the artworks do not compare well with the masterpieces of oil painting that we are used to seeing in art books and museums, the overall effect and ambition is what we must consider.
In spite of being a world heritage site much of it is in poor condition and vulnerable.