Description

Title: The Soul of Black (Homage to the Art of Silk and the Memory of Saints Philip and James)

Technique: Oil and acrylic on canvas panel (Round, ø 30 cm)

​It is with great emotion that I present my latest work, a painting born from a deep immersion in the sacred and artisanal history of the heart of Naples.

​On a round canvas, reminiscent of the sacredness of a rose window, I wanted to enclose a narrative dense with symbols. At the center, a female figure in an emerald green dress works a cascade of fabric that celebrates the legendary "Black of Naples," the precious shade that made the silk guild famous throughout Europe.

​But it is the details that tell the true story of the place to which the work is dedicated:

​On the left, on the already worked black cloak, the historic symbol of the congregation stands out, embroidered in gold: the three skeins of silk.

 On the right, protected by the shadows but revealed by the light, emerges the small and miraculous image of San Gennaro, a historical reminder of the terrible fire that struck the church and the miracle that extinguished it, leaving the statue of the Saint intact.

From above, golden light bathes the scene, uniting flesh, fabric, and faith in a single moment suspended in time. An intimate tribute to a Naples of art, devotion, and master craftsmanship.