Salvatore Fiume - Maenad in Sicily

Salvatore Fiume's work consistently features a certain expressionism, and thus a synthesis of the image in pursuit of greater iconic and symbolic power. For this reason, his subjects draw on mythological themes, partly because of the reference to classical antiquity, a key feature of the Sicilian artist's work. In this case, Fiume develops the image of a Maenad, traditionally a female figure, a follower of Dionysian rites practiced through frenzied dances. In this particular subject, Fiume recontextualizes the mythological theme to his native Sicily, placing the writhing Maenad astride a donkey like any other peasant woman.

This work is part of a series of bas-reliefs, dedicated to religious or mythological themes, in which Salvatore Fiume draws inspiration from classical culture, resulting in a quest for naturalism and compositional balance. The subjects' statuesque builds, evident despite the work's small size, are well-proportioned, and their features are clearly defined. The compositions are consistently balanced and based on fluid, sinuous rhythms dictated by the lines of the bodies and drapery. In this series of bas-reliefs, space is balanced, and the subject is perfectly central and frontal, fully adhering to the principles of harmony and symmetry. Although the figures have a monumental connotation, a certain archaic and iconic quality prevails in the representation. Fiume, in fact, clearly demonstrates his desire to recapture a primordial type of abstraction, typical of ancient civilizations.

Salvatore Fiume was born in 1915 in Comiso and passed away in Milan in 1997. In addition to being a painter and sculptor, he was also an architect. His career as a painter focused on a reinterpretation of classicism, particularly Renaissance painting and Piero della Francesca. Later, thanks to his success, he traveled extensively around the world, drawing inspiration from exotic folklore, which he rendered in an expressionist manner.

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