Antonio Moscheni

Antonio Moscheni (17 January 1854, Stezzano, Bergamo, Italy - 15 November 1905, Cochin, Kerala, India) was an Italian Jesuit brother and late baroque painter, mostly famous for decorating the church of the St Aloysius College, Mangalore, India.

Biography

Moscheni’s artistic talent was discovered early and he was sent to the famed "Accademia Carrara" in Bergamo where he spent several years. He studied under able masters and acquired considerable proficiency in the art of painting. He then went to Rome to study the masterpieces of the Vatican. Fresco painting now became his passion and several of his works can be found in churches of the Bergamo area. In 1889, at the age of 35, Moscheni renounced the prospect of a brilliant career and joined the Society of Jesus. But his religious superiors did not wish his talents to be buried. After the usual two years of novitiate he was sent to decorate churches in Croatia, Albania as well as in his own country, Italy. Moscheni left for India in 1898. He was sent to Mangalore with the specific mission of painting the Chapel of St. Aloysius College, an educational institution recently founded by the Italian Jesuits.

The Saint Aloysius' Chapel

*In true baroque style Moscheni covered walls, ceilings, pillars and every available space with vivid tableaux on the life of St Aloysius Gonzaga (the patron saint of the college), other Jesuit missionaries, saints and martyrs, the mysteries of the Christian faith (the Trinity, Christ and his Mother), glories of other religious orders, etc. It took him a little over two years to complete the work.

*Besides the chapel he painted also some frescoes in the Jesuit dining room: scenes evocative of Ignatius of Loyola's early years and the foundation of the Society of Jesus. And, less known but strikingly unusual - as this was done in the 19th century... -, a painting of the Hindu goddess of Knowledge, Saraswati, on the college stage fittings. Notable also, because proving that Moscheni was a man ahead of his time, is the coat of arms painted above the stage with Sanskrit words: "Satyam eva Jayate".

Other works

The original intention of his religious Superiors was to call Moscheni back to Europe after completing the St Aloysius College work, but his fame has spread in India and requests came that could not be ignored. The chapel of the Kankanady hospital, the Agrar church, the Mangalore’s seminary, the Holy Name cathedral of Bombay were next to benefit from his talent. But nowhere is the experience as total and wholesome as it is in St Aloysius chapel of Mangalore. The bishop of Cochin called him in 1905. Moscheni had hardly completed the work in the sanctuary of the Cochin cathedral when he fell sick: a case of acute dysentery that ultimately proved fatal. He died on the 15 November 1905 and is buried in the Jesuit cemetery of Cochin.

Conclusion

The Saint Aloysius Chapel remains a unique case of baroque art in India. Some compare it to the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican. It attracts thousands of visitors every year. Quite naturally the Indian postal department chose to depict one of the chapel’s painting of Antonio Moscheni when, in 2001, it decided to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the College’s foundation.

Bibliograpgy

*COELHO, J.: "Inspired Jesuit painter and Artist", in 'Jesuit profiles', Anand, 1991, pp. 289-297.

External links

* [http://www.staloysius.ac.in/new/index.html| Saint Aloysius Chapel of Mangalore] .