From Palermo, Sicily
Found in a museum in Palermo.
I took a picture – although it was not allowed.
From the late 1600’s, a wax diorama of a plague victim being lowered into a mass grave.
After some research, I believe that it is by Gaetano Zumbo.
From the blog Morbid Anatomy:
Although his artistic career was extremely short lived, Gaetano Zumbo was arguably one of the finest wax modellers active in the second half of the 17th century.
He died in Paris in 1701.
Zumbo’s work demonstrates a rigorous and scientific observation of the various stages of decomposition of the human body, and essentially, the inevitable decay of human beauty and power.
The Marquis de Sade’s first impressions upon seeing Zumbo’s work are as follows:
‘So powerful is the impression produced by this masterpiece that even as you gaze at it your other senses are played upon, moans audible, you wrinkle your nose as if you could detect the evil odors of mortality…
These scenes of the plague appealed to my cruel imagination: and I mused, how many persons had undergone these awful metamorphoses thanks to my wickedness?’
Nice.
From Ortigia, Sicily
Pistachio marzipan.
One Euro.
Live it up, before it’s too late…
