Gaetano Daniele Di Guardo was born in 1979 in Aci Sant’Antonio, in the province of Catania. After studying art, Gaetano went on to specialise in figurative painting at the Accademia delle Belle Arti, graduating with the highest marks. In addition to painting mainly on canvas in a dreamlike, surreal style, he teaches courses in local schools and introduces young people to the recurring techniques of Renaissance art. In recent years he rediscovered the values of the Sicilian painting tradition and became impassioned about cart decoration, frequenting specialised workshops and learning from the most important masters.

Enamel and oil, 60 x 151 x 68.2 cm Illustrated on this refrigerator are several scenes from “Cavalleria Rusticana”, the opera based on a novella by Giovanni Verga and composed by Pietro Mascagni. The lively style and bright colours reflect the technique of the school of painting of Aci Sant’Antonio, in the province of Catania. The central panel depicts the climax of the tragedy with the mortal duel between Alfio and Turiddu, framed by a series of ornamental motifs; on the sides are images of Alfio and the scene where Santuzza implores Turiddu not to go to church. Checkerboard decorations known as visule are juxtaposed with other traditional friezes and arranged around the three characters. The trinacria, quintessential symbol of Sicily, graces the top.