Mediterranean coastal view (Sicily)ROSARIO DI FAZIO (Palermo, 1892 – 1958)
Mediterranean coastal view (Sicily)
Oil on panel, 52.5 x 91.5
cm. Signed ‘R. Di Fazio’ lower left
. A fine painting of considerable artistic interest, executed in oil on panel and signed lower left by the Palermo-born painter Rosario Di Fazio (Palermo, 1892 – 1958), an artist known for his body of work devoted primarily to urban views, landscapes and seascapes of Sicily.
The work depicts an evocative Mediterranean coastal view, dominated by a warm colour palette of golden, ochre and brown tones that envelop the sky and the rocky coastline, creating a striking contrast with the dark, calm waters of the sea. Two small sailing boats can be seen on the water’s surface, whilst on the horizon, shrouded in atmospheric mist, the mountainous outline of a coastal promontory emerges – a feature reminiscent of the characteristic views of the gulfs and coastlines of western Sicily.
In the foreground, on the right, a rocky and precipitous coastline dominates the composition. A dirt track runs along the ridge and disappears into the sparse vegetation, rendered in a palette of ochres, earth tones and browns, intensely illuminated by the low-angled light. At the centre of the scene, the sea, painted in deep, dark tones, is home to two small sailing boats, helping to lend depth and movement to the composition.
The sky occupies a considerable portion of the picture plane and is characterised by dense, layered clouds, rendered with a rich, textured application of paint. The yellowish, amber and golden hues accentuate the sensation of heat and lend the scene a suspended, evocatively luminous atmosphere.
The composition and painting technique are reminiscent of Sicilian landscape painting from the late nineteenth century to the first half of the twentieth century, in which the veduta tradition blends with a freer approach to the rendering of light. Within this context, one can recognise, due to the similarity in artistic ethos, echoes of the tradition of the School of Francesco Lojacono, which paid particular attention to the rendering of light, atmosphere and the Mediterranean landscape.
Di Fazio’s painting is characterised by a vibrant, full-bodied and at times concise brushwork, capable of immediately conveying the luminous vibrancy and characteristics of the Sicilian landscape. The artist favours a warm and luminous palette, in which earth tones and gold often play a predominant role. Particularly effective in this work is the use of light, which shapes the contours of the coastline and creates a deeply lyrical and evocative atmosphere.
