N.017 - Colapesce

Among the legendary stories and figures linking Naples to Sicily and the wider Mediterranean, the tale of Colapesce is one of the most fascinating and meaningful. In the Neapolitan version of the legend, Nicola Pesce, known as Colapesce, is a boy so deeply in love with the sea and diving that he provokes his mother’s anger and is cursed by her. Seeking refuge in the sea, he gradually takes on the traits of a fish. He allows himself to be swallowed by larger fish in order to reach the shore, cutting his way out of their bellies with his dagger. Federica Crispo’s illustration portrays Colapesce, a modern master of the sea, alongside one of the many treasures he has recovered. Yet the waves at his feet conceal a subtle hint of the tragic ending of his story.