Il Sospetto 2015

Roberto Ferri painted ‘Il Sospetto’ with oils to achieve this interesting and somewhat unsettling nude. When I look at this, I think of the way Francis Bacon contorted the body, the drama of Caravaggio’s theatrical lighting, and even a hint of the Surrealists’ exploration of the subconscious. I wonder, was Ferri thinking about these artists too? Here, the artist has created a smooth surface of skin. It’s so smooth and polished; it almost seems to glow, like it’s lit from within. And that red cloth beneath the figure; I wonder if he applied layer upon layer of glazes to achieve that intensity. What's your take on it? But what really grabs me is the eye staring out from the figure’s back. What does it mean? Is it about being watched, or about our own self-scrutiny? I think there is a dialogue between artists across generations and time, each building on what came before, adding their own unique vision.