Relief, FELICITAS - 52 cm - Stone

The work is part of a privately passed-down collection. It is crafted in Segesta ivory pearl marble, a natural stone valued for its warm ivory tones, delicate veining, and the particular luminosity of the surface. The use of this material gives the relief a timeless elegance and establishes a dialogue between the Sicilian stone-carving tradition and the iconography of ancient Rome.

The work draws inspiration from the apotropaic reliefs of ancient Rome, in which the fascinus was frequently depicted on buildings, shops, houses, and everyday objects as an emblem of protection and prosperity. In this context, the erotic component was strictly subordinate to the symbolic and religious value of the image.

The inscription FELICITAS recalls the same cultural universe of the augural formulas spread throughout the Roman world, such as the famous expression Hic habitat felicitas (“Here abides happiness”), documented at Pompeii and associated with the wish to ensure fortune, wealth, and success for domestic and commercial activities.

The piece presents itself as a monochrome bas-relief with a deliberately archaeological appearance, made in an ivory-beige tone that evokes ancient marble. The surface, characterized by a rough and crystalline texture, shows signs of erosion, small irregularities, and jagged edges.

The overall work suggests a piece inspired by classical art.