Henry Catenacci Studio

This painting is complete, and now hanging on the wall to dry.

Henry Catenacci
Le nove muse (The Nine Muses), 2025
Oil on Panel
16 in. x 12 in.

“A cheerful life is what the Muses love.
A soaring spirit is their prime delight.”
- Wordsworth

www.HenryCatenacci.com

https://medium.com//real-illusions-2025-london-contemporary-art-review-exhibition-12ebe3898775

Il letto dei viole has won the People's Choice Award for "Dark," NOMA Gallery's International Competition.

Curator Emma Taylor of the NAT Gallery in London has put together a beautifully written article about my work for the online magazine Medium.com. Thank you Emma!

https://medium.com//from-realism-to-surrealism-henry-catenaccis-symbolism-of-the-soul-and-the-eternal-quest-de86387556f8

From Realism to Surrealism: Henry Catenacci’s Symbolism of the Soul and the Eternal Quest By Curator Emma Taylor

The academic jury of the Real Illusions — 2025 London Contemporary Art Review Exhibition, part of the International Art Competition in London, has nominated American artist Henry Catenacci as one of this week’s outstanding artists. His two oil paintings are competing for awards in this prestigious UK art competition. Organizer: @gallerynat.london Artist: @hcatstudio American artist Henry Catenacci’s works La visitazione and Il letto dei viole present a profound desire for transcendence over physical limitations, achieved through his exceptional use of surrealistic techniques. These two hyperrealistic paintings create dreamlike ”real illusions“ and explore the philosophical themes of life, death, and hope. In La visitazione, the skeleton represents the physical self, the bluebird symbolizes hope and happiness, the books suggest the pursuit of knowledge, and the candle stands for enlightenment—though the candle is yet to be lit. This imagery reflects humanity’s yearning to transcend the limitations of the body and seek higher meaning. Through his meticulous technique, Catenacci successfully transforms these symbolic emotions into visual language, hinting at the tension between life and death, reason and faith. Il letto dei viole continues to explore this theme, presenting death not as an end, but as a beginning. The violet bed and the peaceful pose of the figure symbolize a longing to transcend the material world, suggesting the eternal cycle of death and rebirth. Using layered wax pencil and oil techniques, Catenacci’s work evokes a delicate yet profound emotion, echoing Emily Dickinson‘s line: “Hope is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul,” portraying hope as the resting place of the soul and inviting philosophical reflection. Catenacci’s works, with their deep symbolism and exceptional technique, convey complex philosophical emotions through visual art, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationships between life, death, and the soul. #Art #ContemporaryArt #ArtCompetition #UKArtCompetition #London #Artist #USA #France #Europe #Gallery #Museum #Curator #Jury #RealIllusions #GrandPrize #Awards

Well, that was a lot of work, but I think I have all of the tones and lighting effects correct on this painting. (As you can see, I’m playing with light a great deal here.) Next: many glazes of color!

Le nove muse (The Nine Muses)
Work in Progress, Grisaille
Oil on Panel
16 in. x 12 in.

www.HenryCatenacci.com

BED OF VIOLETS has been submitted for a competition at NOMA Gallery.

The theme of the competition is “DARK,” so this painting seems fitting.

The winner is chosen by a jury, but there is also a People’s Choice award that is open to public voting from October 2 to October 23.

If you would like to cast your vote for BED OF VIOLETS for the People’s Choice award, please go here:

https://nomaocala.com/dark.

Thank you!

Varnished, framed, and ready for the Uffizi! (ha. ha.)

Il letto dei viole, 2024
Oil on Panel
12 in. x 12 in.

www.HenryCatenacci.com
www.NineMusesArt.com

Just finished this painting.

La visitazione (The Visitation), 2025
Oil on Panel
16 in. x 20 in.

“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul.”
- Emily Dickinson

www.HenryCatenacci.com
www.NineMusesArt.com

Chiaroscuro, baby! Here is the finished grisaille layer for this painting. You can see how the underpainting and the grisaille layer work together to heighten the three-dimensionality of the images. The underpainting adds depth, and the grisaille adds volume (often literally, with the use of impasto on the bird and skeleton). Once this dries, I’ll continue with multiple thin layers of color glazes.

La visitazione (The Visitation)
Work in Progress, Grisaille
Oil on Panel
16 in. x 20 in.

www.HenryCatenacci.com
www.NineMusesArt.com

Another second underpainting finished here. Next comes the Grisaille layer, where I’ll begin working on the sky.

Le nove muse (The Nine Muses)
Work in Progress, Second Underpainting
Oil on Panel
16 in. x 12 in.

www.HenryCatenacci.com
www.NineMusesArt.com