Resumen de Giovanni De Santis e Gennaro Franzese nel panorama della scultura lignea napoletana della prima metà del Settecento
This essay is the initial result of research aimed at deepening knowledge of Neapolitan wood sculpture made between the late seventeenth century and the first half of the following century. This contribution focuses on Giovanni De Santis and his pupil and son-in-law Gennaro Franzese. Essential biographical data has recently emerged regarding these two artists, on whom systematic studies have hitherto been lacking. Furthermore, new and unpublished documents expand their respective corpuses with artworks that are not merely attributed, but certain. These include a notarial deed connected to a statue depicting Saint Gennaro made in 1742 by Gennaro Franzese for the mother church of San Biase in Calabria. This document contains an exceptionally well-preserved preparatory drawing accompanied by the signatures of the author and the patron. A brief section has also been dedicated to Gennaro's son and student, Gaetano Franzese, who has been previously confused or even identified with his father's figure.
