Hi Everyone,
If you're reading "The Last Farina," you've now encountered the statue Arabella's father wished for her to have when he passed. This statue is a rather significant part of the story, and I wanted to share why I chose this seemingly random element.
I'm from Canada. When I was younger, my school took the obligatory trip to Ottawa to see Parliament Hill (Canadian politics can be a bit... understated!). However, I was captivated by what I saw next door: the Supreme Court of Canada. Standing in front, are two sculptures by Walter S. Allward: Veritas (Truth) and Iustitia (Justice).
Created between 1913-1920, these magnificent sculptures were stored and forgotten for nearly 50 years, before finally finding their home at the Supreme Court in the late 1960s.
I chose the Veritas statue for The Last Farina because she embodies a profound principle that resonates deeply with its themes. Veritas is commonly portrayed as a woman, either completely naked or, as in Walter S. Allward's depiction, adorned in transparent veils and holding a mirror. This portrayal perfectly symbolizes truth's nature to reflect reality. Even in her veiled form, her symbolism conveys the "naked truth"—truth unadorned, pure and without disguise. It's about truth emerging clearly, shedding any veil that might otherwise obscure it, to stand plain and revealed, stripped of all deception.
I also loved the irony of a mafia Don ensuring this statue was always present in his office. It speaks volumes about the peculiar value he seemingly placed on the truth by consistently having it behind him—as if it always had his back.
In The Last Farina, the unveiling of naked truth is central. This statue stands as a powerful reminder that truth, to be accepted, must be seen as bare and unvarnished.
Thank you for reading; I hope this peek behind the curtain adds another layer to your reading experience with The Last Farina.
