It is unusual for a contemporary Italian painter to take as his inspiration two artists who were fashionable in nineteenth century England.McDermottimg

Sir Edward Burn-Jones the most romantic of the Pre-Raphaelites and the opulent Neoclassical painting of Dutch born Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema provide Meli with the spark of artistic energy to travel to the world of ancient Greece.

This ancient world is seen as a sumptuous block buster movie.
Only the super stars feature, crowd scenes are eliminated, his subjects look straight to camera, all is perfection the moment is caught --  cut.
He keeps props to a minimum, these ‘neoantico’ actors wear their togas with an easy nonchalance. They are ‘cool’.

Poalino, a youthful Dionysus has an edgy sexual energy, Lisa with innocent charm teasingly invites you to admire her party wings.
Meli paints with delight and skill, he lingers on the subject but only long enough to catch the moment, the maestro’s moment in time.