Creatura Antica 2015

Roberto Ferri made this figure, Creatura Antica, by layering oil paint with such precision and control that it almost feels like a photograph. But it's so much more! It's about the act of looking, isn't it? The surface is smooth, almost seamless, obscuring the process and making you wonder how he built up those luminous tones and subtle gradations of light. Take a look at the back; see how the muscles flex and strain beneath the skin, rendered in warm, earthy hues. There's a tension there, a sense of vulnerability. And notice the horns - they feel almost incidental, yet they carry so much weight. They’re the creatures defining feature. Ferri’s work reminds me of Caravaggio, not just for the use of light and shadow, but for the way he infuses classical subjects with such raw emotion. Ultimately, this piece lingers in the mind. It's a reminder that art thrives in the space between what we see and what we feel.