Pietas 2015

Editor: We're looking at "Pietas," an oil painting by Roberto Ferri from 2015. The figure is nude, partially covered with white drapery, lying next to a skeleton... it's striking how tender the moment feels, despite the presence of death. What do you make of this piece? Curator: It's powerful, isn't it? Ferri deliberately evokes historical paintings, referencing Mannerism and academic art, styles deeply intertwined with patriarchal structures. He uses a classic “memento mori,” the skeleton. But placing it next to a living, female body complicates the typical message about vanity. Doesn't it make you question who is allowed to represent whom, and why? Editor: It does. The woman’s gaze is directed down, seemingly filled with grief, so the 'Pietas' theme becomes very overt. I’m wondering what commentary is made through this modern interpretation, how can this symbolism inform queer or feminist themes? Curator: Exactly! Consider the historical power dynamics often embedded in paintings of the female nude, especially when juxtaposed with death. Ferri seems to be asking us to confront that history, to acknowledge both its beauty and its troubling undertones, while presenting this vision from his own male gaze. Do you think he succeeds in truly subverting the power dynamic, or does he just reproduce it? Editor: That's something I need to think more about, but I appreciate you pointing out the importance of deconstructing gender and identity within art like this. It highlights not just mortality, but how power and representation function. Curator: Precisely. And that, to me, is the value of engaging with art like Ferri's. It's not just about beauty or technical skill, it's about unpacking complex social and historical dialogues. Editor: Thanks, I see the painting in a totally different way now, particularly in relation to art-historical context.