Rocco Carvelli (1930) - Roma Piazza Barberini

Oil painting by Rocco Carvelli (Naples, 1930) entitled "Rome".
The painting offers a vibrant interpretation of Piazza Barberini in Rome.
The work reflects the Italian post-impressionist material painting of the mid-20th century.
The brushwork is done "alla prima", accumulating heavy layers of color without waiting for drying. The grooves of the stiff-bristled brush and the spatula strokes create a three-dimensional surface, where real light rebounds on the reliefs of the matter.
The palette is based on stark contrasts. The dominant cool tones of the sky (intense blue, white) and of the street (blue-gray) are brightened by sudden darting warm flashes of cadmium red and ochre on the figures and on the buildings, imparting great luminosity.
Although starting from a real place, Carvelli dissolves architectural details in favor of an expressive synthesis, returning the psychological, frenetic and pulsating perception of the modern city
Context
The painting is closely tied 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 sits between the late 1950s and the 1960s, a period in which the painter vigorously experiments with views of Italian metropolises.
Canvas dimensions: 40 x 50
Frame size: 50 x 60