No, they’re not photos, take a closer look at the work of hyper-realist-still-life-painter Roberto Bernardi. Bernardi was born in Todi, Italy in 1974. His first works date from the mid eighties, and whilst a young student he dedicated himself to the study of Renaissance painting and pictorial technique, which later proved to be extremely important in the development of his personal creativity. In 1993 he moved to Rome, where he worked as a restorer in the church of San Fransesco a Ripa. After this experience, he dedicated himself full time to the creation of his own hyper-realist works.
The realistic elements of the composition are filtered through a photographic image resulting in a highly technological reproduction. This image is then successfully translated, using the traditional techniques of oil painting on canvas, to a perfect image of reality. Despite adopting the aid of advanced photo technology, his personal translation of his subjects follows a classical line, such as the traditional priming of the canvas, as practised by the painters of the 16th and 17th centuries, combined with the perfection of oil painting technique. Bernardi’s still life follows a mould of classic compositions with great emphasis on the contrast of lightness and transparency further enhanced by his ability to bring out light directly from the objects represented as if they themselves had the capacity to emit light. His paintings are in numerous public and private collections throughout the world.
