“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 !

it is hard
to “choose” a
favourite - - -

but . . .

     “GRAND
     BOUQUET”

must be one of them!






“Grand Bouquet”
oil on canvas
©Nicola Simbari
Grand Bouquet - Nicola Simbari


- - - - 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 !

Simpatia - Nicola Simbari        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 - - -

“Eraclea”
Oil on Canvas
©Nicola Simbari
Eraclea - Nicola Simbari the wind blowing through the reeds and grasses . . .

the umbrellas . .

protection . . .
from
rain or sun !
and
laundry - - -

and boats . . .

small brightly coloured
fishing boats . .

Il Bucato - Nicola Simbari
“Il Bucato”
acrylic on canvas
©Nicola Simbari


strictly speaking, I suppose that “Il Bucato” or “Eraclea” are not
“Still Life” - - -

. . . 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 - - -

“L’Edera” - Nicola Simbari

Summer sunlight . . .


or




“L’Edera”
Acrylic on Canvas
©Nicola Simbari


Autumn colours . . .


. . . they could be ‘anywhere’ !




“Il Muro”
Acrylic on Canvas
©Nicola Simbari
“Il Muro” - Nicola Simbari


- - and again mysterious shapes - - -

in the Seychelles or in Arizona . . .
America’s mystical Southwest
“Azzurro” - Nicola Simbari “Arrojo” - Nicola Simbari
“Azzurro”
Acrylic on Canvas
©Nicola Simbari
 “Arrojo”
 Acrylic on Canvas
 ©Nicola Simbari


Yet . . . Italy held a special ‘Place’ in his heart !

“Balcony a Pozzuoli” - Nicola Simbari

A Neapolitan balcony in Pozzuoli,




“Balcony a Pozzuoli”
Acrylic on Canvas
©Nicola Simbari


or Amalfi . . .




“Balcony in Amalfi”
Retablo in Silkscreen
©Nicola Simbari
“Balcony in Amalfi” - Nicola Simbari


EVERYTHING was Magical and exciting

“Trasimeno” - Nicola Simbari
Or


         a lake near Rome . . .




“Trasimeno”
Acrylic on Canvas
©Nicola Simbari


Or

          the thrill of a coast

in the West Indies . . .




“Barbados”
Acrylic on Canvas
©Nicola Simbari
“Barbados” - Nicola Simbari


And then - - - back “home”

                                  Olives from OUR trees

“Primavera – Mattina” - Nicola Simbari

in Grottaferata . . .


and then - -


Nicola’s love of
WINE !!!


“Primavera – Mattina”
Acrylic on Canvas
©Nicola Simbari


And . . . the ART of Making Wine - - -
. . . 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 ! - - -

“Italiana” - Nicola Simbari
“Italiana” Oil on Canvas ©Nicola Simbari


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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