Additional Information

Benvenuto a Pranzo by Marissa Lico – Benvenuto a pranzo; welcome to lunch· ‘welcome lunch’· Shall we have lunch? Original painting, Mixed Media on Canvas, Framed in Custom Blackwood. Hand signed and ready to hang.

This painting is a warm invitation to the table, to conversation, to pause. Benvenuto a Pranzo captures that quintessentially Italian moment when lunch becomes a ritual of connection. Scattered across the canvas are the quiet heroes of a summer midday spread: fresh melon, grilled zucchini, a chilled bottle of white wine, tomatoes, cheese, lemons, olives and a rustic bowl of salad tossed with seasonal fruit. Each item tells a story of care, seasonality, and togetherness.

The composition mimics the familiar overhead view of a shared table, but with a twist—the space in the centre is left intentionally open, marked only by the phrase Benvenuto a Pranzo in crisp red type. It’s both a title and an invitation: “Welcome to lunch,” “Shall we have lunch?” or even simply, “You’re welcome here.” The empty central space allows the viewer to place themselves at the table—evoking that universal gesture of pulling out a chair for someone and saying, mangia.

This work celebrates the beauty of simplicity: not the grandeur of feasts, but the intimacy of an everyday meal, lovingly prepared. It reflects on the joy of small rituals – the zest of a lemon, the clink of cutlery, the calm that settles when we stop to eat. In a fast world, Benvenuto a Pranzo is a gentle reminder to slow down, gather, and savour.