The Madonna and Child with Souls of Purgatory is a marble bas-relief dating back to the 16th century and attributed to Annibale Caccavello (Naples, 1515-1570). We are aware of Annibale Caccavello’s artistic industriousness thanks to his “Diary”, a book of accounts in which the sculptor noted all the financial transactions relating to his commissions. He worked with Maestro Giovanni da Nola for several years at the Basilica of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli and one can recognize his artistry in a large part of the reliefs depicting historical episodes at the base of the Memorial of Don Pedro de Toledo in San Giacomo degli Spagnoli.

These interventions, together with other similar works such as the one created with Giovan Domenico d’Auria in the Basilica of San Pietro ad Aram, strongly support the conviction that the Madonna and child with Souls of Purgatory is also attributable to him.

The work has always belonged to the Basilica of San Giacomo. It was first kept inside the Basilica and was later removed and relocated to the Poggioreale cemetery to a chapel owned by the Archconfraternity (Burial Society) where pieces of it were chipped away at and stolen. The main part was saved and brought back in recent years to the Basilica where it was placed in the “Hall of Acts”.

Through careful attention, Friends of Naples restored the side chapel altars to the Basilica by bringing specialized Neapolitan professional art restorers to the Church. The expert eyes of the restorers were able to recognize some matching marble architectural elements stored in the basement of the Church attributed to the Master thereby restoring unity to the work.

The anastylosis (reassembly) of the icon was also made possible thanks to the contribution of Riccardo Naldi, professor of art history at the University of Naples L’Orientale and Francesco Esposito, professor of restoration at the University of Naples Suor Orsola Benincasa who is specialized in stone materials and wall paintings; both members of our Scientific Committee.

With the exception of the two semi-columns, the Corinthian capitals and the cherubs on the entablature, Friends of Naples has committed to the philological re-composition and cleaning of all of the parts of the relief that have been recovered.

Today the entire rescued work can be found in the hall of the Acts of the Basilica of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli.