Il Gioco Della Fede 2016

Roberto Ferri made ‘Il Gioco Della Fede’ with oils. This is a seriously skillful painting, with a slickness that almost makes it feel like an illusion. The kind of smooth surface that makes you wonder if it's even paint, but maybe some other kind of hyper-realistic rendering. Look at the way that the light glances off the draped cloth, and the model’s skin. The surface is so smooth, it’s kind of uncanny. I find myself focusing on the cross, that sort of emerges from the shadows, so stark. This element is really a kind of statement. It reminds me of Caravaggio. There's something about the drama and the theatrical lighting that feels familiar. But Ferri brings his own sensibility to the mix, playing with the push and pull between tradition and contemporary vision. With a title that translates to ‘The Game of Faith’, Ferri makes a statement by using the nude and light to create an intriguing space.