Proferio Grossi, Still Life Painting with Watermelons, 1997

Proferio Grossi, Still Life with Watermelons, 1997

A luminous still life by Italian artist Proferio Grossi, painted in 1997, that captures a quietly theatrical moment of domestic abundance. Rendered in Grossi’s finely honed realist style, the composition features ripe slices of watermelon arrayed alongside decanters, carafes, and half-filled glasses—objects chosen as much for their sculptural silhouette as their everyday familiarity. A small floral painting pinned to the wall within the frame offers a gentle play on the idea of art within art, and anchors the work in a wry, self-aware intimacy.

Grossi’s palette is both vibrant and controlled, with juicy reds and glossy greens set against a subdued background of soft ochre and shadow. There’s a subtle surrealism in the juxtaposition of textures and volumes, all painted with extraordinary precision.

Signed and dated lower right. Framed in gilt wood. A fine example of late 20th-century Italian still life, bridging traditional subject matter with a slightly modern, enigmatic sensibility.