Baret LaVida
220 minted
William WatkinsSomnia Stellae (Dreams of the stars, in Latin) by Baret LaVida is an interactive, dynamic, evolutive and all-devices-sync dream of the Renaissance. 1549, in the serenity of Valdarno, a discreet village in the outskirts of Florence, Lorenzo Gherardi closes his eyes for the last time at the age of 72. His life, marked by a tangible economic misfortune, concludes without any of his creations having left his studio. However, the echo of his genius remains alive thanks to Bianca Elena Gherardi, his daughter, who emerges as the indispensable custodian of his artistic legacy, trying to ensure her father's unique vision found posthumous recognition. Born in the heart of Florence in 1477, Lorenzo dedicated much of his life to art, always on the brink of anonymity. Distanced from the recognition and acclaim that filled his contemporaries, he found in astronomy—a passion inherited from his father, Giuliano Gherardi, a distinguished astronomer—and in painting, a personal sanctuary and an unparalleled medium of expression. His main work stands out as a testament to his almost naive perception of the possibilities beyond the astronomical knowledge of his time, a canvas that captures his fascination and wonder at the universe. Through his work, Gherardi invites us on a journey through the enigmas and desires of the cosmos, using his art to inquire and theorize about possible celestial territories yet unveiled. In it, he reflects his personal and pure interpretation of the astral splendors as he imagined them, as he dreamed them. Despite having been forgotten, his legacy prefigured methodologies and perspectives that, over the centuries, other artists would come to consolidate, demonstrating his avant-garde spirit and his ability to transcend the barriers of his time. Five centuries later, his collection "Somnia Stellae" arrives as generative art.