Portret van Gaetano Pratesi, in gebed voor een crucifix 1739 - 1784

Carlo Faucci’s print portrays Gaetano Pratesi in devotion before a crucifix. The composition is immediately striking, using a muted palette where tones of grey create a meditative atmosphere. The work’s power lies in its structure. Pratesi is positioned in the foreground, his hands clasped in prayer over an open book, leading our eye toward the figure of Christ on the cross. Faucci carefully balances the human and divine through line and form. The curves of Pratesi's hair and the soft fabric contrast the sharp lines of the crucifix, yet both share a vertical orientation which suggests a connection between earthly and spiritual realms. The crucifix, rendered with detailed precision, is not merely an object of faith, but a structural device that elevates the composition. The crucifix and Pratesi come together to destabilize any singular, fixed meaning, but encourage ongoing interpretation.