Ekphrasis

When John Varriano would come home late after a long day in the studio, his wife Sharon would sometimes be up waiting for him. At the time they had two pets who lived with them in their Upper East Side apartment. Cello, their adorable and charismatic Yorkie, and Topaz the cat, affectionately known as Topi. Throughout the years, John had done many sketches, drawings and paintings of Sharon and the pets. This painting provides us with a stunning example.

These quiet late-night moments were particularly comforting and Varriano was very fond of these times. “At a certain point late at night, even Manhattan slows down and one feels the stillness and calm of a cozy blanket. The air carries a gentle breeze and you can smell that you are on an Island between two rivers.”

This is a beautiful painting, done in an intense chiaroscuro style, (Italian for light and dark), that had been developed in Italy and spread throughout Europe Centuries earlier. The painting is highly realistic but at the same time remains free and painterly in technique, the mark of true artistic mastery.

The room is enveloped in darkness and the only source of light is a single lamp that illuminates the subjects. The painting is filled with flora. There is the floral pattern on the fabric of the sofa, the beautiful bouquet of multi colored flowers and the roses in Sharon’s hand that she has snatched from the bouquet. Partially lost in thought Sharon uses the flowers to gently taunt Topaz who appears to have been more captivated by Varriano.

There is a subtle triangulation of participation. Sharon admires the cat as the beautiful nocturnal creature looks straight out at us, as we in turn look back at both of them. In the silence of the moment we can still hear the gentle purring of that exquisite cat.