Sculptures

Once upon a time, there was a giant, a Titan, who made a decision that would forever change the destiny of humanity. He dared to steal a tiny bit of the sacred fire from the Olympian gods. The gods, by their very nature, possessed everything in large quantities, but Prometheus took that fire—that knowledge, that spark—and gifted it to humans, who, in their initial state, lacked even the most essential things for survival.

I am Theseus, son of Aegeus, King of Athens, and Aethra. From my youth, I knew that destiny had marked my life for great feats and challenges. In this account, I will tell you how I confronted and defeated the Minotaur, the beast of Crete, and freed my homeland from a dark tribute. This epic is not just a story of bravery and strength, but also of love and cunning, of how a young mortal defied fate and the gods.

When one stands before "The Disillusionment" (*Il Disinganno*), the mind resists accepting the material truth. Although it seems incredible, even the last knot of the work is part of a single piece of marble, a technical feat that makes the sculptor Francesco Queirolo an unparalleled master. Observing the virtuosity with which the sculptor created the net covering the figure—a net that forms a single piece with the rest of the sculpture—is an experience that, even three centuries later, still amazes. This wonder is housed in the Sansevero Chapel in Naples, a temple filled with mystery and history.

Have you ever read the Song of Songs? It is a singular and captivating text that is part of the Bible, a literary jewel that has puzzled and fascinated theologians, poets, and artists for centuries. At first glance, it narrates the passionate story of two lovers: a young shepherd and the beautiful Shulamite, a figure of unparalleled beauty and charm. It may seem strange that such an intense, almost erotic love poem in its language and description, achieved such a prominent place in the canon of the Holy Scriptures.