Francesco De Grandi: Painting the Sacred in Contemporary Sicily

Francesco De Grandi, a 54-year-old painter born and living in Palermo, is recognized for his exceptional technique and deep engagement with Christian iconography. In January 2023, at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Urbino, Gabriele Arruzzo described his recent decade of work as destined for Italian art history. De Grandi's painting "Croce di Urbino" was commissioned for the Church of San Francesco, displayed between works by Federico Barrocci and Giovanni Santi. Since 2013, his exploration of Christian themes has intensified, starting with "L'entrata di Gesù a Palermo" (referencing James Ensor), followed by "Trisma" (2016), "Giovanni Battista tra le piante sacre" (2017-18), "La Porziuncola" (2019), "Le tre Marie" (2019), a cycle on "La macchina di Santa Rosa a Viterbo" (2020), "Inizianti" (2021), and "Cristo arrestato come Pinocchio" (2022). De Grandi views painting as a form of prayer and seeks to generate enchantment, addressing unanswerable questions through sacred imagery. He does not consider himself particularly gifted but claims awareness of how painting functions. His works often feature birds (peacocks, ibises, crows), dogs, insects, and snakes, reflecting his past as a hunter. The loudspeakers in "Croce di Urbino" represent demonic voices spreading lies and hatred. De Grandi identifies being Italian as an imprinting from encountering Christian iconography in churches. He aims to eventually paint the resurrected Christ but feels unprepared.