DON CRISTOFORO DE CASTEL ¬- THE CREATOR OF THE GEORGIAN PICTORIAL CHRONICLE

ELDAR MAMISTVALISHVILI

ELDAR MAMISTVALISHVILI Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Gori State University, Georgia, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5978-7624

Abstract

Don Cristoforo de Castelli’s activities in Georgia were not confined to a single field. At first glance, his highest duty as a missionary would appear to have been the preaching and dissemination of the Word of God. However, his devoted service to the local population—which created a favorable environment for the successful fulfillment of his mission—meant that Castelli simultaneously acted as a pharmacist and healer, a politician and diplomat; he fought against human trafficking, painted and adorned Georgian Orthodox churches, and generally engaged in artistic work. It is difficult to name an aspect of Georgian life that was not reflected in his drawings and sketches.

The letters, drawings, and accompanying inscriptions left by Don Cristoforo hold immense value for the study of Georgian history, ethnography, and, more broadly, Castelli’s artistic legacy within Georgian culture—a subject of great interest to Georgian scholars and researchers.

Currently, seven albums of Castelli’s drawings are preserved in the Municipal Library of Palermo (3Qk E-92, E-93, E-94, E-95, E-96, E-97). His letters and various records are kept in the archives and libraries of Rome, Florence, and Naples. One particular relation—“Mission to Many Infidel Lands”—is preserved in the library of the Theatine house of Sant’Andrea della Valle (Skhirtladze, 2014). He was a proud relative of Cardinal Andrea della Valle, after whom a street and the church Sant’Andrea della Valle in Rome were named (Pietro della Valle, 1892, vol. 1). Could this library be located in the same house that Don Pietro della Valle gifted to the mission in Gori? (Tabaghua I., 1987:137).

In addition to various writings and treatises, Castelli compiled over a thousand ethnological and historical drawings and sketches, demonstrating notable design skill. He created a kind of illustrated diary that captured episodes of his missionary adventures, scenes of daily life, games, amusements, household structures, churches, and fortresses. Also included are depictions of various buildings, churches, fortresses, village landscapes, and scenes of the local population’s daily work. He produced portraits of Georgian princes and both famous and unknown historical figures. His works depict the costumes of various peoples, and finally, there is a group of drawings dedicated to religious and fantastical themes (Luigi Cajani, 1978). According to Castelli himself, he undertook this work at the request of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (Propaganda Fide) (Licini P. A. 1985: 59).

Keywords: Castelli; Urbano VIII; karavaggio; Stwefano della Bella; Georgia; Teimuraz I.