Aqua City

Somewhere far below the waves there's a city of brass domes and ornate towers, and a submarine that looks more like a floating palace is just nosing out between them. A lionfish has swum right up close to see who's visiting, dolphins and sharks circle overhead, and a manta ray glides past the rooftops.

Ciro Marchetti fills the seabed with coral, jellyfish trailing their tentacles, a lobster and shoals of little striped fish, all lit by shafts of sunlight from above. Finished size 69 x 48cm.