Poppies

This artwork takes inspiration from Italy and its typical flowers, infact the poppy is a plant native to the Mediterranean.

The poppy, with its vibrant red hue and delicate shape, is a flower that has captured the imagination of many cultures over the centuries.

This flower, known for its ephemeral beauty, has taken on a variety of symbolic meanings that vary from culture to culture, offering a wealth of interpretations that go far beyond its simple aesthetic beauty.

In Western culture, the poppy is often associated with peace, sleep, and death. This connection stems in part from Greek mythology, where the poppy was sacred to Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and harvests, and to Hypnos, the god of sleep.

The poppy was also a symbol of Morpheus, the god of dreams. This association with sleep and dreams is also reflected in literature, such as in the famous story "The Wizard of Oz," where a field of poppies induces a deep, enchanted sleep.

However, the poppy also has a darker meaning. During World War I, poppies flourished on the devastated battlefields of France and Belgium, becoming a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers.

This image was immortalized in John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Fields," and today, poppies are often worn as a sign of respect and remembrance for the war dead.

In Eastern culture, the poppy has a very diverse meaning. In China, for example, the poppy is seen as a symbol of success, beauty, and luxury. This is partly due to the fact that the poppy was a highly prized flower in the Chinese imperial courts, where it was considered a symbol of high status.

In Japan, the poppy is associated with passion and love, and is often used in traditional kimono designs. Furthermore, the poppy also has a spiritual significance in many cultures. In ancient Egypt, for example, the poppy was associated with Isis, the goddess of motherhood and fertility. Poppies were often depicted in funerary paintings, symbolizing the promise of eternal life. 

Ultimately, the poppy is a flower that carries with it a wealth of symbolic meanings. Whether seen as a symbol of peace, sleep, death, success, beauty, passion, faith, or devotion, the poppy has the ability to touch the heart and soul in profound and powerful ways. 

This symbolic versatility, combined with its undeniable beauty, makes the poppy a truly unique and captivating flower.

Stones used: Red Burn Magnesite, Green form Africa, Onix.

Year of composition: 2025

Size: cm 23x30

Artist: Leonardo Scarpelli

An original and authentic hand-made artwork created whith the antique technique of Commesso Fiorentino which is unique for Florence.

Commesso Fiorentino was born with Medici family, one of the most important families in Florence, in the second half of 1500.

The research of the stones is made by the mosaicist that must be able to choose from a rich and wide range of shades and veins: for this reason the artists personally search and collect the stones retracing the paths of the Medici researchers.

The processing starts by drawing the subject on adhesive paper, that is then cut into small tamplates that will be attached to the variegated shades of the stones following the visual instinct, the innate gift of the artist and his perfect knowledge of the materials. The shape of the little piece will be cut by hand with a chestnut, cherry or hazelnut wood bow and an iron wire that flows with abrasive powder and water. It creates a very precise and inclined cut to form the essential spaces to accommodate the glue, made by artisans with beeswax and pine tree resin. The different stones are previously glued onto a slate surface which acts as a support during the cutting and filing phase. The various pieces which form the composition are adjusted in shape with diamond files, glued together so that the joints are invisible, flattened and finally polished in order to create a perfect decorative harmony showing the colors of nature in all their radiance.