The Return of Clemente

In 1998, an extraordinary film saw its release on the big screen - an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations. Besides the remarkable tandem of Ethan Hawke and Robert De Niro and the gentle presence of Gwyneth Paltrow, the production also enjoyed a subtle intervention by the American artist Francesco Clemente. He was the author of the drawings presented as the works of Hawk's character – Finn in the film. The beautiful portraits had large eyes which emphasized the human soul. Clemente had been interested in this stylistic and philosophical direction right from the beginning of his artistic career in his native Naples. In fact, this is evidenced in his current exhibition at the Vito Schnabel Gallery in Santa Monica, California, which is open to visitors until the 22nd of  January.