Sorry about that. I actually worried about that a bit in the back of my mind, that one of you folks who know both Greeks might become obsessed. I memorized the Italian, so understanding the Greek is the cherry on top.
So you think it is Ancient Greek? I expected it to be Ancient knowing Fellini. The only thing I can say is that perhaps somehow money or the starving artist or (passion for) art/science/philosophy or genius might have some bearing on it since those are the themes of the scene, especially poverty and genius. But there aren't a lot of syllables to somehow give one of those themes a "crazy" twist.
taskema=ta skemma=the examininings?
σκέμμα , ατος, τό, (σκέπτομαι)
A. subject for speculation or reflection, problem, Hp.Acut.9, Pl.R.435c, 445a, Phld.Rh.1.202 S.
II. speculation, Pl.Cri.48c; “τὸ ς. περὶ δυοῖν ἐστίν” Arist.Pol.1285b37.
III. scheme, plot, J.BJ1.24.6.
That seems pretty good actually. Maybe we can just explain the "crazy" part away with lazy translators doing the subtitles.
But I listened some more and I just don't hear a K. I hear three Ts, especially a very distinct loud one at the end. According to my notes, my Italian tutor also heard a couple of Ts.
Actually, the thing to do is to check the Petronius....Here is a three hundred year old translation. If you search for the fourth appearance of "painting" you will get the scene:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext04/7pasw10a.txt But I assume the Greek would have been translated also. I don't see anything anyway. I'll check closely tomorrow.
Thanks again!