Italo De Grandi | Undated
Tempera on paper | 24 x 34 cm
Period 1985-1988: Reminiscences and fantasy
Imaginary | Landscape
Inventory IDG-851 | Private Collection
Photo L'Atelier De Grandi
Retrospective I. From Grandi to the Jenisch Vevey Museum 1993
Artistic features
Subject:
In this imaginary hilly landscape, whose imposing escarpments and limestone wounds make it almost an abstract composition, we find a motif dear to Italo and which already appears in early compositions (see Remembering a dream): the small house surrounded by a vegetable garden at the top of a hill - symbol of happiness on earth.
Composition:
Medium:
This is egg tempera: colour pigments are added to egg yolk, forming semi-covering colours.
Pallet:
Italo chooses here three restricted and very specific colour ranges: the first one in beige and brown tones (bistres) for the mineral elements - rocks, and small house; the second one in green/brown tones for all vegetation; the third one in green/blue tones for the sky.
Light:
A global light includes almost multi-directional, almost shadow-free lighting. In this imaginary composition, the lightness and transparency of the contrasts between light and shadows contributes greatly to the timelessness of the scene.
Background
Period:
In the crucible of his quest within reality, Italo reconnects with the imagination of his youth by using tempera: so many scenes he enjoys with tenderness and nostalgia.
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