Napoli, scoperto affresco del VI secolo di S. Paolo

Napoli, scoperto affresco del VI secolo di S. Paolo

È già visibile al pubblico l’affresco di San Paolo risalente al VI secolo scoperto durante lavori di restauro nelle catacombe di San Gennaro a Napoli. La scoperta si deve alla giovane romana Albini, una delle restauratrici all’opera nell’ambito del progetto «teniamo in vita il passato» creato da don Antonio Loffredo, per dare lavoro a giovani del Rione Sanità che si sono costituiti in cooperative e in Onluss.

'Sensational' sixth-century fresco of St Paul discovered

Vatican City - A sixth-century fresco of Saint Paul has been discovered in Naples, Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano has said, describing the find as ''sensational''. The fresco was found during restoration work at the city's Catacombs of San Gennaro (Saint Januarius) by experts from the Pontifical Commission of Sacred Art. The apostle is depicted with a long neck, a slightly pink complexion, thinning hair and big eyes that give his face a languid, spiritual air.

The saint is wearing a tunic with the letter 'I' on the hem, which may stand for 'Iesus' (Latin for Jesus).

''The image, which dates to the start of the sixth century, is one of the most intense, austere figures of late antiquity,'' read the piece announcing the discovery, which will be published in Wednesday's L'Osservatore Romano.

The right side of the work has not survived the last 1,500 years.

The commission said details suggest that an image of Saint Peter would have been there. photo: a fresco of Saint Paul.

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