In this monument, which was made in 1875, the sculptor Cevasco represents the mourning widow who is bringing a crown and knocking on the sepulcher’s bronze door, which holds an hourglass, a classic symbol of the passing of time. As it often happens in the cemetery of Staglieno, the representation of the sorrow prevails on the representation of the deceased, who are usually portrayed in a medallion in the upper part of the grave and are surrounded by some symbols which are typical of their profession (in this case, a compass, a caduceus, an anchor, some books, a globe and a helm). In fact, the epitaph tells us that Pietro Badaracco’s fortunes have come from his captain’s skills and that he had traveled as a captain the seas of both the old world and the new world with acclaimed skill. Even if it refers to a famous model – the theme of the sorrowful survivor in front of the sepulcher’s door comes from the Monument dedicated to Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen, i.e. Maria Theresa of Austria’s daughter, a neoclassical sculpture made by Antonio Canova – the monument’s structure is different: the widow is wearing fashionable clothes, which have been accurately represented, and her openwork shawl highlights its author’s undeniable technical skills.
