Friday 16 October 2009

View of Palermo, from the Port


Center of Palermo, as seen from a Pier
oil on canvas
20 x 40 cm
painted on location - Sat. 3 Oct 2009

SOLD

Just a detail of the harbor, as it is enormous, hosting all kinds of sea going vessels; from elegant cruise ships to cargo ships of all sizes from far off destinations. As is demonstrated in this scene, no modern buildings, the highest towers, belong to cathedrals, and the splendor of nature engulfs the city, in an harmonies balance. And this is what adds to the charm of this Island, it still retains its uniqueness. Most of the structures are beautiful monuments, too good to knock down, and rebuild. In this city, as in most locations here in Sicily, Mother Nature decides, when it is time for a face change. And it comes in the way of an earthquake, for example; but also an eruption from the worlds most active vulcano, "The Giant Etna", can cause untold damage. Oh yes, I forgot to mention, the next envading culture, will also have to leave its trademark! If you don't know it already, Sicily has gone through at least 8 or 9 different invading forces, such as the Greeks, the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Normans, just to name a few.

1 comment:

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

I would love to see a city with no modern buildings. Beautiful painting.