European School (xx) - The Spirit Of The Forest (inspired By Arcimboldo)

- Oil on panel.

- Set within an altarpiece of turbulent golds and opulent filigree, this monstrous and sacred effigy emerges: the Sylvan Genius in his Mannerist triumph, where nature is transformed into flesh, and flesh into a botanical nightmare. His face is a whimsical interplay of textures, an assemblage of rough bark, gnarled vines, and cryptic roots that weave a countenance imbued with cunning and mystery; it is crowned by ivy climbing like an emerald serpent, as well as by bare branches rising like deer antlers or skeletal fingers. At the center of this organic theater, ruby-colored, full lips—formed from voluptuous mushrooms or tubers—form an ambiguous and sensual grimace, while a cluster of golden citrus fruits, resembling sacred orbs, hangs like an ex-voto from its rustic neck. The figure, wrapped in coarse esparto grass, stands against a backdrop of crimson darkness; it is framed by a garland of blood-red flowers and leaves evoking vice. The composition forms a portrait that is, at once, an ode to abundance and a warning against corruption: a visual marvel that defies reason and celebrates the exuberance of divine creation.

- Dimensions of the artwork without frame: 41 x 57 cm / 56 x 72 cm with its exclusive, custom-made frame.