Rocco Carvelli (1930) - Roma Piazza Barberini

Oil painting by Rocco Carvelli (Naples, 1930) titled "Rome".
The painting offers a vibrant interpretation of Piazza Barberini in Rome.
The work reflects the Italian mid-20th-century post-impressionist material painting.
The painting is executed in 'alla prima', piling up heavy layers of color without waiting for drying. The brushstrokes of the stiff bristle brush and the strokes of the spatula create a three-dimensional surface, where real light bounces on the reliefs of the matter.
The palette is based on stark contrasts. The dominating cool tones of the sky (deep blue, white) and of the street (blue-gray) are brightened by sudden swift touches of warm cadmium red and ochre on the figures and the buildings, imparting great luminosity.
Although rooted in a real place, Carvelli dissolves architectural details in favor of an expressive synthesis, restoring the psychological, frenetic and pulsating perception of the modern city.
Framing
The painting is closely linked to Carvelli’s maturity. His participation in the VII Quadriennale d'Arte Nazionale di Roma in 1956 marks the beginning of a deep bond with the capital. The work plausibly dates to the late 1950s and the 1960s, a period in which the painter vigorously experimented with depictions of Italian metropolises.
Canvas dimensions: 40 x 50
Frame dimensions: 50 x 60