This nude male figure drawing "Fondo Tondo" in charcoal continues my Chianti Series. While putting charcoal on paper I was thinking again about the roundness of human forms. There is not a single straight line in the human body. Everything is curved and rounded. Just like the traditional Chianti bottle – the fiasco (Italian for "glass bottle")
First, I even thought I should call this drawing "The Fiasco". But then I realised that it didn't seem right. Because "fiasco" to me – and probably to many of us – sounds like a complete failure, ludicrous and humiliating.
Honestly, I couldn't find an answer to the question of how and why the Italian "glass bottle" (fiasco) became synonymous with failure. All I know is that the Italians themselves were the first ones to say far fiasco ("to make a bottle") – meaning "to fail in performance". Interesting and strange.
Now, if we talk about Chianti – then what is a traditional Chianti bottle? What is a real fiasco?
Well, the fiasco is a glass bottle with a round body and a round bottom, partially covered with a close-fitting straw basket. The "round bottom" in Italian will be "fondo tondo". Here, I found the right name for my drawing!
Oh, and did you know that if you carefully study the Renaissance paintings by Boticelli or Ghirlandaio – you will find the fiasco bottle in their paintings!
Today in Italy the fiasco is just a beautiful tradition. it's not commonly used, but if used – then mostly for tourists or as a decoration in restaurants.
I am very fascinated by the round forms of the fiasco bottle. It looks so organic, so natural, so round. Just like the forms of the human body.
Nude Male Figure Charcoal Drawing "Fondo Tondo"/Chianti Series – Dimitri Ross, Florence, Italy – 14 Sep 2023