The sculpture “Ceres” by Girolamo Ciulla, created in 2000, represents a significant example of his exploration of the relationship between myth, material, and Mediterranean memory. Born in Caltanissetta and active for many years in Pietrasanta, Ciulla developed a distinctive sculptural language based primarily on the use of stone and travertine, materials that enabled him to combine archaic solidity with contemporary synthesis.
In this work, the reference to Ceres, the Roman goddess of the earth, agriculture, and fertility, connects with one of the central themes of the artist’s practice: the dialogue with the ancient world and its symbolic figures. However, Ciulla does not interpret myth in a narrative or illustrative manner. On the contrary, he reduces it to an essential, almost archetypal presence, constructed through compact volumes and surfaces worked with strong tactile attention.
The figure emerges from the block of travertine with a deliberately simple and frontal composition. Furthermore, the contrast between the modelled upper section and the more massive base emphasises the relationship between image and material, between human form and the geological memory of stone. The treatment of the surface, marked by vertical incisions and a restrained modelling, gives the work a character that is at once primitive and contemporary.
Overall, “Ceres” fully demonstrates the ability of Girolamo Ciulla to transform myth into an essential sculptural form, combining classical roots, Mediterranean culture, and modern sensibility.
Descrizione: Travertine stone sculpture, bearing on the base the artist’s signature and date incised, and underneath the base the number “436”, H cm 31x37x29.
Provenienza: importante private collection – Bologna.
Hammer Price: € 3.600,00
Auction 76 – November 14th 2024 – Contemporary Art
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