This watercolour of Ibicella was inspired by a painting of Samson and Delilah by the French symbolist artist Gustave Moreau.
Samson lies asleep on the lap of Delilah, who gazes out at the viewer langorously and knowingly, before cutting off his hair.
Ibicella is here shown seated on a throne inspired by the petals of the Ibicella lutea flower, after which she takes her name.
Perhaps it is the end of a bacchanal, and she looks out at us with a similar gaze, her hair circled with ivy leaves, and her slave has collapsed over her knee, drunk from wine and her passionate embrace, his chalice fallen to the ground, but still bound to her by long tendrils which run the length of her palace. He wears a mask reminiscent of a fools’ cap, for he is in the best sense a “fool for love”.
In the background another slave has been holding a tray of wine for the evening’s debauchery.
Ibicella unveiled the painting during a webcam in which she thanked the commissioner and myself .
The Art of Sardax 