The Bronze Sculptures

The works of art in the crypt of the Upper basilica

Madonna of Oropa Pilgrim (1963) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The sculptures in the crypt of the Upper Basilica

The crypt of the Upper Basilica was dedicated to all the Biellese people fallen in the Second World War. Today the crypt houses a precious collection of nativity scenes and works of art such as the bronze sculptures by Adelfo Italo Briasco, the terracotta sculptures by Francesco De Pasquale and "The Man of the Shroud" by Franceschino Barbera (Sandrun).

Madonna of Oropa Pilgrim (1963) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The Pilgrim Madonna

Madonna with the Child (1963) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The works of Adelfo Italo Briasco (1907 -1980) were placed in the crypt of the Upper Basilica in 1998 by the will of his daughter Gelsina

Madonna with the Child (1963) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

Among the works of art on display, there are two "Madonna and Child", the "Birth of Jesus" and three scenes of the Via Crucis created in 1963

Nativity of Jesus (1963) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The Nativity of Jesus

Pity (1963) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The Pity

Deposition (1963) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The Deposition from the Cross

The encounter with the Veronica (1963) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The encounter with the Veronica

Annunciation (1962) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The "Annunciation" sculpture is divided in two bronze panels

Annunciation, Nativity, Calvary (1962) by Adelfo Italo BriascoSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

In 1962 Briasco shaped the Annunciation, the Nativity and Calvary in a single sculpture

The Man of the Shroud (1963) by Franceschino Barbera (Sandrun)Santuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The Man of the Shroud was made by Franceschino Barbera (1927-1970) known as "Sandrun", a talented and tortured artist from Sordevolo (Biella)

The three-dimensional elaboration of the Man of the Shroud was obtained from a simple photograph and was made in two copies in 1963

The Christmas of the "Peregrinatio" (1970/1975) by Francesco De PasqualeSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

In the crypt there are also two terracotta sculptures by Francesco de Pasquale: "The Christmas of the Peregrinatio" and the "Daughters of Mary"

Daughters of Mary (1970/1975) by Francesco De PasqualeSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The Daughters of Mary are the nuns of the Sanctuary. The order was founded by the
Princesses Maria (1594-1656) and Caterina (1595-1640) of Savoy, daughters of Duke Carlo Emanuele I.

Pity (1945/1950) by Virgilio Audagna (?)Santuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa

The Pity by Virgilio Audagna was made in glazed concrete

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