Tondo Doni

Here is a touching painting; here is a unique illustrative experience that I was lucky to carry out on the commission of a contemporary Benefactor, contemporary but endowed with an ancient heart, or maybe a classical heart, full of love for life.
As a wonderful gesture of love, this work includes the representation of Dunfionn, a dog, a dead friend, and was made in 2002: for this work I had to visit the Uffizi Gallery many times: each visit became more and more emotional, as the painting was taking shape. In each visit, moreover, I was more and more convinced that I was seeing a sculpture, rather than a painting, a true two-dimension sculpture where Michelangelo’s greatness is enhanced in the accomplishment of something that he would always say he was not able to do: to paint.
I made this oil painting – even if it is described as a tempera colour painting – because I noticed some shade passages typical of oil colours, although I conceived for my true composition of colour a sort of fat tempera, achieved by adding an oily material and other components to the tempera and this led me to the final result.
When you paint such a work, it is as if you travel within the creative spirit and realize the purity given by the historical moment - unrepeatable in this era: it was like a giddiness if you think of what we are no longer able not to do.
But is was above all a moment of authentic emotion, shared with him who felt the necessity of searching a place in his soul where he could rest the enormous charge of love and pain that had taken shape in one of the most beautiful and satisfying relationships, the one between man and dog.
There are no words to thank Client for his commission and for the valuable friendship that has arisen.