Rhode Island Monthly March 2020 | Page 75

“He knew when he walked in, and the
walls weren’t finished, he said to himself,
‘I’ve got my own Sistine Chapel. I can fol-
low in the footsteps of Michelangelo,’” says
Petrucci. “He walks in, looks around, leaves.
Comes back with this lovely statement of
work: $25,000.”
Nincheri slaved away on his magnum
opus for eight years, painstakingly painting
directly onto wet plaster. Because of the
fresco technique, there was no room for
error, and each portion had to be completed
within a few hours. He built up and dis-
assembled scaffolding to reach each section
of ceiling. Angels, demons, saints — the
innumerable swathes of figures that cover
the church ceilings and walls slowly started
to take form.
“There’s about 475 faces up there, and
the models used for them were either pa-
rishioners or people who lived in Woon-
socket,” says Petrucci. “The kids who
modeled for him got twenty-five cents and
a peanut butter sandwich. And he would
give a special place to people he liked.”
The figure of Saint Cecilia, the patron
saint of music, was based on the church’s
organ player, who kept Nincheri enter-
“Puzzled, Fragments &
Flower Power”
Solo exhibit by Artist
Umberto Crenca
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Solo exhibit of political & social
artworks by Umberto Crenca, a visual
and performing artist, Crenca’s works
have been exhibited and performed
widely in galleries, pop-up spaces,
and performance venues, including
the Galleria Del Corso (Latina, Italy),
La Galeria Matadero (Puerto Rico),
the Rhode Island School of Design
Museum; the Newport Art Museum
(RI), and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
(Scotland). He lives and maintains a
studio in Providence, RI with his wife,
artist and musician Susan Clausen.
Experience an extensive rotating
collection of fi ne art, international
handicrafts, and eclectic gifts on
Historic Federal Hill, Providence,
Rhode Island.
Artist talk: Saturday, March 21, 5pm
TAX FREE ZONE
259 Atwells Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island
www.galleryzprov.com
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY
l MARCH 2020     73