Spirito di Palazzo Veneziano
120 x 100 cm, olieverf op linnen
In “Spirit of Palazzo Veneziano,” Bobkin captures the essence of a bygone era in a single moment of reflection and decay. Only in solitude can one hear the true voice of the past. The walls of the palazzo, once adorned with the masterpieces of Giorgione and Titian, now whisper only fragments of their former glory. The Venetian red background evokes the grandeur of the Venetian families, once so powerful and mysterious, their lives intertwined with intrigue and secrets.
The portrait shows a vague figure, perhaps a doge, staring at us from a shadowy netherworld. His scepter, partly hidden in the shadows, and the dagger, sharp and ready, symbolize the duality of power and vulnerability. The animated atmosphere suggests a living past, where each brushstroke forms a poetic text, echoing “Death in Venice” and “In the Light of Venice.”
Bobkin invites us to encounter this spirit, not just as spectators, but as participants in an ancient drama. The palazzo remains a place of discovery, where every creaking floorboard and faded fresco tells a story. Thus, we are reminded that even in decay, beauty and history go hand in hand, and that the spirits of the past still have a powerful presence in the present.
