“The Face of the Naturalist”
Though Nicola painted ‘everything’ that “caught his eye” . . . his Garden, in Grottaferrata , in the Alban Hills, just outside Rome, was often his greatest “inspiration” . . . the roses, the huge cactus plants, the bougainvillea, the oleanders, the olive trees and every little flower or weed ! . . . and the many flower arrangements in the house !
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it is hard to “choose” a favourite - - - but . . . “GRAND BOUQUET” must be one of them!
“Grand Bouquet”
oil on canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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- - - - reminding me of the long summer days, the pool, friends
visiting, Jenny playing with our dogs, and Nicola singing loudly in HIS
Studio, whilst painting and ‘creating’ - - - everyone was welcome !
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OR . . . “Simpatia” Dahlias in a green vase on the sitting-room table, in front of a large “Simbari”, which hung on the wall . . . When we were first married, living in his Trastevere Studio . . . Nicola used to bring me large bunches of flowers, adding to the colour in our ‘space’ !!!! “Simpatia”
oil on canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
Of course, the dahlias, and tulips and daffodils made wonderful
splashes of colour in our garden or in the house, but, as we motored
along the Adriatic coast, the beaches had their fascination for Nicola
. . . driftwood strewn on a Calabrian shore - - -
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“Eraclea” Oil on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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the wind blowing through the
reeds and grasses . . .
the umbrellas . . protection . . . from rain or sun ! |
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and laundry - - - and boats . . . small brightly coloured fishing boats . . |
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“Il Bucato” acrylic on canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
strictly speaking, I suppose that “Il Bucato” or “Eraclea” are not
“Still Life” -
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. . . but I think they show how ‘anything and everything’ could be
exciting for Nicola’s “Artist’s Eye” . . . as we traveled - - - Italy,
Spain, Portugal, or the Caribbean, Mexico, Brazil, or Florida and
California - - - for him certain subjects had an “eternal” factor . . .
wherever we were . . . this,
excited and fascinated him - - -
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Summer sunlight . . . or “L’Edera” Acrylic on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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Autumn colours . . . . . . they could be ‘anywhere’ ! “Il Muro” Acrylic on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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- - and again
mysterious shapes - - -
| in the Seychelles | or |
in Arizona . . . America’s mystical Southwest |
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“Azzurro” Acrylic on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
“Arrojo” Acrylic on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
Yet . . . Italy held a special ‘Place’ in his heart !
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A Neapolitan balcony in Pozzuoli, “Balcony a Pozzuoli” Acrylic on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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or Amalfi . . . “Balcony in Amalfi” Retablo in Silkscreen ©Nicola Simbari |
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EVERYTHING was Magical and exciting
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Or a lake near Rome . . . “Trasimeno” Acrylic on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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Or the thrill of a coast in the West Indies . . . “Barbados” Acrylic on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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And then - - - back “home”
Olives from OUR trees
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in Grottaferata . . . and then - - Nicola’s love of WINE !!! “Primavera – Mattina”
Acrylic on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
And . . . the ART of Making Wine
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. . . watching his grapes, in his vineyard, grow and become ready to
pick !
then, the tasting of the wine when it was ready to ‘bottle’ . . .
he loved it all !!!
- - - from this
love came this amazing work ! - - -
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There are so many examples of his love of the NATURE
all around him . . .
These are only a few! Enjoy!!
© Elfrida 2011
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