Antonio Sciacca (1957) - Madonna lignea modello XVIII secolo

Antonio Sciacca (1957) – Wooden Madonna, model from the 17th and 18th centuries

Oil painting – Hand-signed – 1999
Artist: Antonio Sciacca (1957)
Sold with frame: No
Edition: Original
Technique: Oil painting
Signature: Handwritten
Country of origin: Italy
Year: 1999
Excellent conditions
Height: 70 cm
Width: 60 cm

Madonna Lignea by Antonio Sciacca: A Dialogue between Tradition and Modernity
The painting "Madonna Lignea" by Antonio Sciacca, a mixed-media work on canvas measuring 70 by 60 cm, presents itself as a piece capable of creating a deep and intriguing dialogue between classical iconography and a bold, contemporary painting language. The artist elevates the figure of the Madonna, interpreted here not in a traditional way, but through its depiction as a wooden mannequin. This subject, inspired by the anatomical and artistic models of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, acquires a new life, no longer an inert object, but the protagonist of an intense spiritual reflection and deep introspection.
The figure, rendered with an explosion of vivid colors and stylized shapes, exudes a powerful emotional intensity. The use of bright colors like blue, yellow, and red on a torso that is partly nude and partly veiled gives it almost sculptural three-dimensionality and surprising vitality. The Madonna's gaze, even in its stylization, is piercing, conveying a serenity and inner strength that transcend its nature as a mannequin.
The artwork is enriched by the presence of a pomegranate in the foreground. This fruit, universally recognized as a symbol of abundance, fertility, and life, takes on here an additional meaning. In Christian symbolism, the pomegranate is often associated with the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, representing the life that springs forth from death. Sciacca places it as an enigmatic bridge between the sacred and the profane, between tradition and the present. Its presence underscores the resilience and spiritual strength of the female figure, and her capacity to generate new life, even in a context of apparent inanimateness.
Sciacca's mastery is evident in the material and gestural technique. The bold, visible brushstrokes create a tactile expressiveness and a sense of movement. In the background, the warm tones of orange are applied with a decisive gestural approach, imparting dynamism and enveloping the figure in a vibrant atmosphere. This bold use of painting material, where the color is laid down almost with impulse, contrasts with the precision of the drawing and the graphic rendering of the figure, creating a visual complexity that captures and fascinates the viewer.
"Madonna Lignea" is a significant testament to Antonio Sciacca's poetics, a work where innovation blends harmoniously with tradition, and where every element, from the pomegranate to the brushstrokes, contributes to a unique visual and emotional experience.
The work, internationally recognized and appreciated, comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the master on the photograph and is accompanied by a warranty certificate.