His works are the ideal fil rouge of a tour from a side of the island to another, between churches rich in artistic treasures. He was born in Lacco Ameno on 1st of January 1697 in a wealthy family with different landed properties. Alfonso Di Spigna was Francesco Solimena’s pupil and, as a kid; he spent in Genoa seven decisive years for his education.

alfonso dispigna

The first traces of his activity on the home island are from 1735, with works realised in Forio for the church of Santa Maria of Loreto and for the congregation of Santa Maria Visitapoveri, whose archconfraternity he was enrolled to and where he had different roles, including the prior one in 1755. Visitapoveri can be considered a Di Spigna’s small art gallery, not surprisingly named the “Foriano”, for the ten oval pictures from 1779, which decorate all the walls. The Annunciation and The Archangel Gabriel with Tobiolo are in the church of Saint Sebastian, whereas in Saint Vito, there is the Virgin with San Vito and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, which in the lowest level shows the representation of the old town of Forio as it was represented in 1745. In the sacristy, there is the Lamentation over the dead Christ. For the church of Santa Maria di Loreto, he painted Elisabeth, a Virgin Mary Nativity and a Rest on the Flightinto Egypt, a certainly worthy painting. The other paintings of Di Spigna, which we can admire in the church in the street of Forio, are Adoration of the Shepherds, Circumcision and Presentation of the Virgin in the temple.

At San Michele, in Forio, there are the paintings of Saint Michael Archangel on the Main Altar, the Immaculate Conception with Saint Anthony and Saint Augustin and the Adoration of the Shepherds. Other painting are in the church of Saint Francesco di Paolo in Zaro and of Saint Michael Archangel in Monterone. The altarpieces of the artist are three in the Church of Saint Anthony in Ischia: Saint Anthony of Padua, Stigmata of Saint Francis and Levitation of Saint Joseph of Copertino, which dominated the main altar of the Chiesa Collegiata dello Spirito Santo in Ischia Ponte. He died on the 1st of November 1785 at the age of 88.