NOAH'S ARK
1978, 50x60cm, Glossy oil on canvas
Noah’s Ark, one of the most famous stories from the Bible, represented with vivacity and richness of detail, showing the boarding of animals before the universal flood.
“Noah’s Ark” from 1978 depicts a vivid and colorful representation of the biblical story to which the title refers. At the center of the composition stands the ark, a large wooden vessel with a house-like structure on top. The ark is positioned in a blue waterway that extends toward the horizon, where it merges with the sea. On and around the ship, a multitude of animals moves in pairs: zebras, lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, camels, and many others, all arranged to create a dynamic scene full of life.
In the central part of the ark, a human figure can be noticed, presumably representing Noah, intent on coordinating the boarding of the animals. Some animals are already boarding using a wooden ramp, while others wait their turn on land. The banks of the waterway are characterized by lush and colorful vegetation, with palm trees, leafy trees, and tropical plants. In the background, small houses or huts with red roofs can be glimpsed, distributed on both banks, and a blue sky with fluffy white clouds suggesting the arrival of the imminent flood.
The scene is rich in details and teeming with activity, with animals of different species interacting with each other in an atmosphere of orderly confusion, typical of a major event in progress.
Painting technique:
The work is created using the glossy oil on canvas technique, as indicated by the caption (“glossy oil on canvas - 1978”). The luminous and brilliant surface gives the scene a vivid and almost fairy-tale quality. The composition is characterized by a bold and vivid use of colors: intense blues for the water, bright greens for the vegetation, yellows and ochres for the lands, and a variety of tones to represent the diversity of animals.
The pictorial style recalls naïve or primitive art, with a representation of elements that privileges expressiveness and narration over anatomical realism or academic perspective. The figures are outlined with clear contours and flat colors, giving the work an almost illustrative appearance. The perspective is intuitive rather than scientific, allowing the artist to represent multiple events and details simultaneously, according to a visual narrative reminiscent of medieval miniatures or folk art.
Symbolic elements and hidden meanings:
The subject of Noah’s Ark is inherently symbolic, representing universal themes of salvation, renewal, and harmony among living creatures. The work adds further levels of reading through specific compositional choices and details.
The peaceful coexistence of predators and prey (lions and zebras, for example) symbolizes the ideal of a harmonious world where the natural laws of survival are temporarily suspended for a higher good. This image of peaceful coexistence recalls the biblical prophetic vision of a time when “the wolf will dwell with the lamb.”
Water, a central element in the composition, represents both destruction (the imminent flood) and purification and renewal. Its extension toward the horizon suggests the universality of the story and its timeless relevance.
Conclusion:
“NOAH’S ARK” is a work that reinterprets a fundamental biblical story with a vivid and personal style that combines naïve elements with rich symbolism. The scene, teeming with life and details, invites the observer to explore every corner of the composition, continuously discovering new elements and interactions between the characters. The general atmosphere of the work conveys a sense of hope and wonder rather than the gravity of the imminent flood, emphasizing the salvific aspect of the biblical story.
Noah’s Ark, one of the most famous stories from the Bible, represented with vivacity and richness of detail, showing the boarding of animals before the universal flood.
“Noah’s Ark” from 1978 depicts a vivid and colorful representation of the biblical story to which the title refers. At the center of the composition stands the ark, a large wooden vessel with a house-like structure on top. The ark is positioned in a blue waterway that extends toward the horizon, where it merges with the sea. On and around the ship, a multitude of animals moves in pairs: zebras, lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, camels, and many others, all arranged to create a dynamic scene full of life.
In the central part of the ark, a human figure can be noticed, presumably representing Noah, intent on coordinating the boarding of the animals. Some animals are already boarding using a wooden ramp, while others wait their turn on land. The banks of the waterway are characterized by lush and colorful vegetation, with palm trees, leafy trees, and tropical plants. In the background, small houses or huts with red roofs can be glimpsed, distributed on both banks, and a blue sky with fluffy white clouds suggesting the arrival of the imminent flood.
The scene is rich in details and teeming with activity, with animals of different species interacting with each other in an atmosphere of orderly confusion, typical of a major event in progress.
Painting technique:
The work is created using the glossy oil on canvas technique, as indicated by the caption (“glossy oil on canvas - 1978”). The luminous and brilliant surface gives the scene a vivid and almost fairy-tale quality. The composition is characterized by a bold and vivid use of colors: intense blues for the water, bright greens for the vegetation, yellows and ochres for the lands, and a variety of tones to represent the diversity of animals.
The pictorial style recalls naïve or primitive art, with a representation of elements that privileges expressiveness and narration over anatomical realism or academic perspective. The figures are outlined with clear contours and flat colors, giving the work an almost illustrative appearance. The perspective is intuitive rather than scientific, allowing the artist to represent multiple events and details simultaneously, according to a visual narrative reminiscent of medieval miniatures or folk art.
Symbolic elements and hidden meanings:
The subject of Noah’s Ark is inherently symbolic, representing universal themes of salvation, renewal, and harmony among living creatures. The work adds further levels of reading through specific compositional choices and details.
The peaceful coexistence of predators and prey (lions and zebras, for example) symbolizes the ideal of a harmonious world where the natural laws of survival are temporarily suspended for a higher good. This image of peaceful coexistence recalls the biblical prophetic vision of a time when “the wolf will dwell with the lamb.”
Water, a central element in the composition, represents both destruction (the imminent flood) and purification and renewal. Its extension toward the horizon suggests the universality of the story and its timeless relevance.
Conclusion:
“NOAH’S ARK” is a work that reinterprets a fundamental biblical story with a vivid and personal style that combines naïve elements with rich symbolism. The scene, teeming with life and details, invites the observer to explore every corner of the composition, continuously discovering new elements and interactions between the characters. The general atmosphere of the work conveys a sense of hope and wonder rather than the gravity of the imminent flood, emphasizing the salvific aspect of the biblical story.