The Many “Faces” of SIMBARI
“The Sportsman”
Bicycles and
cars - Horses - Marksmanship - Swimming - Sailing !
The list is long ! Was there any sporting activity he didn’t find
exciting? !
Well, maybe Tennis . . . and Golf !
The first time I saw a “Simbari Exhibition”, was in Rome, at the
‘Obelisco Gallery’ . . . (I did not know who he
was !) I was drawn to
his Bicyclists wending their way up a steep hill, through a small
village . . .
In Italy, Cycling is still a major sport . . . driving on country roads it is
quite ‘normal’ to meet a group of cyclists pedalling together - - -
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. . . he would stop his car, to sketch these scenes, in his large drawing book, as he drove through Italy, in search of his favourite ‘subjects’ ! “Pista dei Ciclisti” Gouache on canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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“Giro di Francia” tempera on board ©Nicola Simbari 1955  |
From his sketch book! ©Nicola Simbari drawing “ciclisti in gara” |
“l’arrivo dei ciclisti” from “Gennarino” children’s book [J.B. Lippincott] |
Yet, Cycling
was not his only ‘fascination’. . . even then . . .
he was excited by Horse-racing .
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Early days . . . An early work ! “Le Capanelle” tempera on board ©Nicola Simbari |
trotting
. . . (very popular in Italy !) . . . . and flat
With many of his friends and Collectors owning Horses, he loved
attending The Races in Rome, Milan and Paris . . . Florida and
Kentucky!
Nicola painted many “horse racing” paintings, through the years,
on request - - - for his Collectors
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I love this work ! . . . I can hear
the horses breathing, and the sound of
their hooves on the turf !
X X X
And then there are BOATS
Sailing - - - racing - - - drifting - - - on the beach !
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Ischia - - Il Castello . . . |
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Cover for “GENNARINO” . . . a
children’s book written and illustrated by Nicola Simbari Published by JB Lippincott |
NOW
We must “fast forward” to
THE CARS!
FORMULA ONE and RALLYE
No Italian Man
drives
‘normally’ ! Everyone is a Racing-car driver . . .!
Nicola is no different . . . !!! Dashing through traffic . . . hurtling
round bends on a steep mountain road . . . feeling ‘challenged’ if some
one
dares
to pass him!!
So a “Challenge” came when M. Mansour Ojjeh [of Formula 1 car racing] suggested
painting the F.1 races in 81/82. For Nicola, THIS was “heaven”!!!!
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MY FAVOURITE !!!!
And then - - -
Herr Habbell,
Director General of AUDI, suggested a series of
RALLYE CARS . . . HOW
could Nicola, refuse !?
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Now . . . he could to travel to Kenya and Australia, and Monte Carlo .
. .!!
AND be a part of “revving engines” and famous drivers !!!
Another Dream – come-true! - - - again !
© Elfrida 2011
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