Cuneo Civic Museum - The vault by Pietro da Saluzzo

The vault of Pietro da Saluzzo

In the second half of the 15th century, the Franciscan brothers commissioned the frescoes for the cross vault of the chapel of Santa Croce. The chosen painter was Pietro da Saluzzo, the subject was the Stories of the Passion of Christ, and the recommendations concerned the quality of the colors, which "from blue to gold and others must be good and fine.".  

The cycle is composed of several scenes: the Entrance into Jerusalem and the Last Supper, Christ in the Garden and the Kiss of Judas, Christ Mocked and Scourged, Peter's Denial, Pilate's Judgment and the Way to Calvary; in the northern archway are visible the Betrayal of Judas and Judas Hanged.  

The sails are bordered with decorations, and the ribs with a partially preserved wavy ribbon.
Although its state of preservation does not allow for a complete understanding of the work, Pietro da Saluzzo's intervention in Cuneo is among the most interesting in the painter's and his workshop's production, especially considering that he did not limit himself to the chapel of Santa Croce, as demonstrated by the very recent restorations in the other chapels.

The artist was known until a few years ago as the Master of Villar because, during the restoration of the Chapel of San Giorgio in Villar San Costanzo, in the Grana Valley, he revealed his true identity in a scroll, signing himself Petrus de Salucis. He worked in our area between 1430-40 and 1480.

We remember him in San Bernardo di Valgrana, San Sebastiano di Monterosso and in the Sanctuary of San Magno the frescoes of the Allemandi Chapel.