Shoo Painting

We are all familiar with the work of old masters, their techniques, their story-telling (allegory), all popular subjects at that time. Ratko Backo FRSA takes a fresh look at the work of Bernadino Mei, an Italian painter and engraver during the baroque period and flushes-out the allegory from that time to give us work that is strangely contemporary in its feel. Instead of darkness, Ratko contrasts the subject-matter through his application of goldleaf giving us an intense light. The hands of the woman are not fine and delicate but rough and rugged as she 'shoo's' away the serpent. As with other pieces, Ratko has used 22.6 carat gold in the painting.