The art of saving and the Holy art: the Cloths of the Passion in Blue of Genoa

My town, Genoa, is known for its harbor, the historic center, some excellent food products such as focaccia and pesto, and the aquarium. But there is an even more famous object, absolutely global, that has its origins in Genoa, and perhaps not everyone knows that: the jeans. Today's name Blue Jeans is the evolution of the original "Bleu de Gênes" - Blue of Genoa, the name given to the cloth used and marketed since 1500 by the Republic of Genoa. This fabric (linen, cotton, or wool), dyed with indigo, was created for maritime use because of its good resistance and low cost (make a note of this) and was then used to create work clothes for the dockers of Genoa.

Another aspect for which Genoa is known is, elegantly put, the "tendency not to spend" of its inhabitants. This "ability" to find economic solutions has led to several curious situations, such as fake windows painted on the facades of buildings in order not to pay the related taxes, but has also given rise to works of art that are now a unique example: the "Cloths of the Passion".

These are fourteen canvases representing scenes from the Passion of Jesus, their uniqueness lies in the support used: linen canvas dyed indigo, the ancestor of modern jeans. The particularity of the completely blue canvas, painted only in white, gives the images an unusual and very striking contrast, of which there are no other examples.

The pigment used is "biacca", or lead white, that is, lead carbonate in a solution of linseed oil, known since antiquity, offers excellent coverage, long resistance, and low cost (again, an important issue).

The canvases depict images taken from engravings by the German artist Albrecht Dürer, of the Great Passion and Little Passion series, and were commissioned in 1538 for the Benedictine Abbey of S. Nicolò del Boschetto, in the Polcevera Valley. Most of the works are dated in that year, a second part around the middle of the 1500s, and the last four date to a later period, between the 17th and 18th centuries.

Their function makes them even more special, they were not in fact simple "paintings" but were used as an ornament and a real wall of temporary wooden structures, built inside the church during the Holy Week. On the back there are in fact laces that were used to fix them to the supporting structure, creating a real separate chapel, where the faithful could gather around the holy sepulcher. This function is especially evident in the first cloths, given the large size and the arched opening to form the door.

After being in the possession of different private collections, given their status as unique and high-quality works, since 2001 they have been acquired by the Government, and are now on display at the Diocesan Museum of Genoa, in the cloister of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo.

So, next time you visit Genoa, in addition to the aquarium, the walk in the caruggi (the alleyways of the old town), the focaccia, and trenette al pesto, you will have a new gem to discover.

Be careful not to spend too much though!