Nymphs and Sirenes Series..................................People have approached me with the questions of why do you paint so many naked women, they point their fingers with a twisted mind. The real story is this series of painting was inpired by the kingdom of Anacaona queen of Xaragua in the pre Columbus period in Haiti. The kingdom layed in the southwest part of Haiti (now Jacmel, Leogane regions). The Arawaks were not Christians and had no notion of heaven. The closest thing to heaven to them was to go the southern region to her kingdom. At least once in their lifetime on pilgrimage to the Xaragua region. Where they would eat sweet mangoes and juicy apricots. Everyone wish to die there in the arms and company of the beautiful women there. The Arawaks or the first Haitians for the most part lived on manioc, cassava, sea food and a wide variety of local fruits. That left them a great deal of free time. For more than half a year they were idle or on vacation. With all that free time they developped very elaborated social life where ceremonies to the local gods lasted days at a time. And the kingdom of Anacaona was the focus point of of those ceremonies. As a high pristess the perfectionized and invented many rituals that raised her to the level of a goddess. To see or be near her was spellbiding. She was surrounded and served by virgins, she often bathes in the many waterfalls in the southern region, the many ceremonious rituals she invented were conducted in the nude, dances ect... It most be noted that these people were 90% naked anyway and lived almost all their life outdoors and had no notion of private properties. One hour under the midday Haitian sun you'll be in full agreement with them...... Even today Haitians have claims they see Queen Anacaona, some even claims to have gone and stayed in her kingdom for a few days. Most howerver are satified to dream of her, I myself fell in this late category. This is the legacy left by the first Haitians. The ability to live your whloe life in dreams. It is our great heritage..............To continue....... It was said even Christopher Columbus adored her. He never attacked her kingdom. Her nature and the nature of her kingdom made her special. She was the last to fell under the onslaugh of the Spaniards. Nicholas Ovando the replacement of Chistopher Columbus could not stand her independance. He invited her to a meeting to honnor her and commemorate her for who she was. In fact Ovando had plan to get rid of her for she had gold in her kingdom. Also her kingdom was now swelled and overpopulated with the fleing Arawaks running away from slavery and death from all the corners of Hispanola. She had became a refuge and a symbol of Arawak life. Catholic preists hated her as well she was the leader of a people devoted to the adoration of nature and a number of gods. The sun, moon, trees even the animals were sources for praises and adoration. Please go and read the history. The childlike behavior and life of these first Haitians are well documented included the genocide they suffered from the conquistadors.Anacaona was treaturously seized from in grand meeting with Ovando to sign a peace treaty. She dressed in full glory for the occasion, inculind gold anclets, flowers from head to toes ect. ect, ect. She was laso accompanied by hundreds of virgins dancing under legions of singing and humming preists and drummers ect.. In the middle of the ceremony Ovando put his hand on the cross on his chest and that was the signal for the slaughter to begin. The virgins, preists, drummers, all were all put to death and the queen was drag on foot to Isabella the capital to suffer humiluations and insults. She was hung ceremoniously with speeches and sermons by preists and the Spanish authorities. And was left for her body to rot so all can see the end of the Godess and "THE END OF HAITI". It is well known that the Spaniards wanted to end the lifesyles of the first Haitians but they were stuned by what happened next. When the news spread in the Xaragua regions where the queen ruled, a large number of her subjects (thousands) after killing their own children commited mass suicide. Ladies and gentlemen this is one of the greatest story on earth. Something all living in the Americas should know about, Haiti is the origin of it all. the greatest movie ever that can be made. and ......................................................As for myself that paradise never and could not be lost. It was tranfered to different level or plane of existance. Where it is now no consquitadors, explorers or the curious tourists can enter. The island is protected by a legion of trained sirenes ready to redirect or sink any approaching foreign vessels. The only way to get there now is thru the heart. The musical instruments, flowers ect... are gifts from me......................................................................eyewitness.--Joseph.......Queen Anacaona of Xaragua, daughter of the Caribbean sun disk and her kingdom lives on forever..................------.

Joseph Cantave "On the River Banks" oil on canvas. 24"x30" with frame 28"x34". $SOLD    Joseph Cantave "Yellow Guitars". Oil on canvas. 24"x36" with frame 28"x40". $1150.00    Joseph Cantave "Papillon Godesses" oil on canvas 24"x36" with frame 27"x39". $1050.00    Joseph Cantave "Sirenes on Fire" 24"x36" with frame 26"x38". Painted in 2004 $SOLD    Joseph Cantave "Green Face Sirenes" 24"x36" oil on canvas with frame 26"x38". Painted in 2004 $SOLD    Joseph Cantave "Between Nymphs" oil on canvas 24"x36" with frame 27"x39". $1050.00    Joseph Cantave "Two Nymphs2" oil on canvas 24"x30" with frame 26"x32". Painted in 1992 $SOLD    Joseph Cantave "Two Nymphs2" oil on canvas 24"x30" with frame 26"x32". Painted in 2005. $SOLD    Joseph Cantave "Trois Grandes Nues" oil on canvas 24"x30" with frame 27"x33". Painted in 2006. $950.00    Joseph Cantave "Bathers" oil on canvas 24"x36" with frame 27"x39". Painted in 2006. $1050.00    Joseph Cantave "On the Riverbanks 3" oil on canvas on canvas 24"x30" with frame 27"x33"Painted in 2007. $950