Franz Gertsch (1930–2022)

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This painting shows the usually extroverted Luciano in a rare moment of quiet introspection. The remains of an evening meal lie on the table before him. Gertsch had spent the night in the villa’s attic room and took the photograph early the following morning. According to Castelli, the party was still in full swing, with the rest of the group sitting around the table. Yet for his painting, Gertsch chose a photograph in which Luciano appears alone. There is no pose, no self-conscious performance – he is completely absorbed in this single moment. Gertsch has transformed it into a modern vanitas still life, a meditation on the transience of life. Here, once again, is Dr Kathleen Bühler:

'You are drawn into the world of this communal household, and I find this portrait of Luciano Castelli deeply moving. He’s sitting at the table, surrounded by what remains of the evening – cigarette ends, dirty dishes, empty wine glasses. Yet here is a young man gazing thoughtfully into the room. To me, he is a timeless symbol of the fragility of young people, who even today still don’t know where life will take them or what the future holds. Franz Gertsch captured that so beautifully that, I think, it still rings true today.'