The holy forest

or the park of monsters

​

Vicino Orsini, the head of one of the great noble families in the Papal States, commissioned the architect Piorro Ligorio to create a garden in 1552. It was intended to manifest the grief over the death of his beloved wife Giulia and become an expression of a great love, the love for his wife.

The Bosco Sacro, a forest full of huge monuments and statues carved from tuff, was created over 20 years of work. These are probably not just portraits of his wife. There are also animal creatures and mythical figures created out of fantasy, showing dream images that have far exceeded the limits of the demonic. The second name Parco dei Mostri, Park of the Monsters, more than does justice to this.

What is important in the photographs is mainly the facial expression. They are format-filling images that do not allow the gaze to wander. The viewer sees the stone of the sculptures, but inevitably perceives the figure, the mythical creature, the human being.

The nymph. The sphinx. Reclining woman. Dominant hybrid being. The rough, coarse stone surfaces are due to the centuries. However, the strong expression of the sculptures is still preserved after this time. For me, the way the surface contrasts have been worked out reinforces the effect of the figures.

The Orco. Aggressive, format-filling and dominating the picture.

The Pegasus. Flying, light, brightly inscened and depicted.

Surrounded by darkness, the darkness of the deep, Neptune sits dominantly above the viewer.

Il Diavolo. His facial expression changes depending on the angle of view. Sometimes mischievous, grinning knowingly. Then again at eye level or condescending, observing.