Antonio Bobo' (1948) - Sirena nello Studio

ARTIST

Antonio Bobò (1948) Italian painter. Born in Livorno, he is a polyhedral artist who currently lives and works in the Tuscan countryside, in Spianate di Altopascio. His training solidified between 1966 and 1968, a two-year period during which he attended the Art High School in Florence, studying under master Renzo Biasion. Painter, etcher, sculptor and ceramist, Bobò stands out for a refined technique that often employs multi-material supports. His technical skill is evident in the extraordinary ability to master scratches and chromatic contrasts, always maintaining a delicate and elegant balance. From the 1970s onward, the artist chose to organize his prolific production around continuous thematic cycles, blending painting research and printmaking experimentation with skill.

From a stylistic and poetic point of view, critics have frequently placed him among symbolists, neo-romantics, or even authors with strong Liberty (Art Nouveau) influences. Yet Bobò’s art defies conventional labels: he does not seek an absolute ideal of beauty, but uses his work to “ continually deceive nature and mock history.” Through emblematic cycles such as “The Distorting Mirrors,” “The Studio of Wonders,” or “Exoduses,” the Livorno-born master climbs onto original visual paths, facing creative risk with irony and determination, and returning to the viewer a dream-like and deeply metaphorical vision of the world.

Over the long career, inaugurated with his first solo show in 1960, the artist has exhibited in contexts of great distinction such as Palazzo Strozzi in Florence and the Grand Prix International in Monte Carlo. Today, Antonio Bobò’s works enrich prestigious public and private collections in Italy and abroad. Among his most significant achievements is a presence at MoMA in New York as part of the project “The Book in Twentieth Century Italy.” More recently, in 2022, a precious core of his works — including five refined engravings and a splendid oil on panel — was acquired by the permanent collection of Mo.C.A. (Montecatini Contemporary Art), further consolidating the value and importance of his legacy in the contemporary art landscape.

DESCRIPTION

“Sirena nello Studio” (Mermaid in the Studio), oil on canvas, 50x60 cm, 1991, signed bottom left. On the reverse, autograph note by the author with signature and title, exhibition label.

The canvas transports the observer into the dreamlike and visionary universe typical of Antonio Bobò, revealing a scene of enigmatic and theatrical charm. Within what appears to be a studio suspended outside time, a quiet and magical dialogue unfolds between the creator and his muse. A mythical creature, a mermaid whose tail sinuously emerges revealing elegant chromatic geometries, lies reclining inside a richly draped tub, surrendering gracefully to her element. Providing a strong counterpoint is the imposing and focused figure of an artist, seen from behind, as he, with a firm and measured gesture, is intent on immortalizing her on a striking round canvas, dominated by a golden background that radiates warm, almost sacramental light over the entire scene.

The composition is orchestrated through a intelligent and balanced interlocking of forms, where the curved lines of the tub, of the circular painting, and of the female figure harmonize with the stricter fields of the background. In keeping with the author’s refined technique, the paint surface appears dense and tactile, animated by those unmistakable scratches and vibrant textures that give the image a tangible three-dimensionality. The chromatic play thrives on elegant contrasts: the deep, dark, nocturnal tones of the shadows and background softly clash with the warm accents of the terracotta, browns, and golden glows. This careful application, coupled with bold and scratched brushstrokes, enhances the decorative quality of the details, from the tub’s drapery to the soft interweaving of the mermaid’s hair.

Fully embedded in the thematic cycles that characterize Bobò’s prolific inquiry — ideationally close in inspiration to the atmospheres of “The Studio of Wonders” — this work masterfully synthesizes his peculiar poetics. The panel bears a strong reference to symbolist art and to the refined sinuosity of Liberty, yet reworked through a highly personal filter that blends fairy-tale enchantment with a pronounced and fascinating exotic note, clearly visible in the appearance and garments of the portrayed painter. Guiding the myth into the earthbound and practical dimension of the artist’s studio, Bobò confirms his subtle irony and his vocation to “deceive nature,” offering the viewer an allegorical narrative where the allure of the unknown and the elegance of form celebrate the very mystery of the creative act.

CONDITION REPORT

Excellent overall condition. The work is intact in every part with vivid and legible chroma and brushwork. The photograph of the painting placed in an setting was generated with artificial intelligence and should be regarded as purely illustrative. Only the remaining photos are valid, faithfully showing the object and its features, both generally and in detail.

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