ARCHIVE MARINE OFFERS


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22.                 COLI, GIUSEPPE  1859         

The brig "Francesco" invested by a big storm in the Black Sea 

 Oil painting on canvas, cm 68x56 (inv. Costa n.34)      Signed: Gius. Coli dip.
 

Known data:

   TYPE:                                             brig 
   YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION:    1852
   PLACE OF CONSTRUCTION:   Varazze
   SHIPOWNER:                               G. B. Antola
   CAPTAIN:                                      Giuseppe Olivari

Caption:

        "Save, Holy Virgin, the small boat by You protected; Offer made by Francesco Schiaffino son of Giuseppe said "the maschè", in fierce thunderstorm happened in the Black Sea close to the lantern of Chilì, the night of the 5th October 1859; by Holy Mary miraculously she has obtained the salvation. - Brig Francesco Capt.n Giuseppe Olivari "

Notes:

Decidedly a minority are the Offers of the Sanctuary of Boschetto executed in oil on canvas in comparison with the great number of watercolors and wash drawings. This second technique had in fact greater favor between the customers for the meticulous yield of the details, more satisfying desire than a precise remind. 

The oil painters seems instead more able to render the emotional atmosphere of the happened fact in a context in which the boat doesn't have a leading role. 

In such sense, to highlight the neatness of the works of Gavarrone  is enough to compare his works with this canvas, the only one of the exibition of the Sanctuary of Boschetto signed "Giuseppe Coli", in order to pick its great difference with the others. 

For the search of a naturalistic expression is involved here the same divine participation, point of light in the storm together with other gashes of clear that opens the stormy sky but, thanks to the unusual choice to represent the Annunciation, emerging element in the economy of the scene. 

The brig is probably the same "portrayed" by Domenico Gavarrone and today in the Maritime Museum of Camogli. In 1888 in a travel from Northshields to Table Bay it shipwrecked with all the crew (cfr. Velieri di Camogli, Genoa 1984, p. 32). The brig's and captain's name are added by two different hands.