Artist: Nicola Simbari
Title: Summer in Cuma
Medium: Original Acrylic on Canvas
Canvas Size: 31.5" x 31.5"
Frame Size: 37.5" x 37.5"
Inscription: Signed "Simbari" on Front Lower Right
Year: C. 1960-1970
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Bursting with the warmth and vitality of the Mediterranean coast, "Summer in Cuma" captures a quintessential moment of Italian seaside leisure through the bold, expressive lens of Nicola Simbari. In this original acrylic on canvas, two figures—one clad in a swimsuit, the other shaded beneath a wide-brimmed sunhat—stand in the foreground, absorbed in the languid rhythm of a summer day.
Behind them, a lively arrangement of beach umbrellas in bright, saturated shades of yellow, red, and green pop against the surrounding landscape, evoking the energy and joy of a bustling shoreline. The background is loose yet purposeful, rendered with Simbari's signature use of palette knife and dynamic brushwork that adds movement and emotional depth to the scene.
Simbari's mastery of color is on full display here. His bold, sun-drenched palette and textured surface bring the painting to life, infusing it with the heat, light, and spirit of the Italian coastline. The composition balances figurative intimacy with abstracted design, inviting the viewer into a timeless summer moment—vivid, carefree, and full of warmth.
A vibrant celebration of coastal life, Summer in Cuma is a striking example of Simbari's ability to merge expressionism with storytelling, capturing both place and feeling in his uniquely cinematic style.
About Nicola Simbari
Nicola Simbari was a pioneering Italian painter known for transforming the traditional Mediterranean landscape into a modern visual language. Trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, Simbari embraced a radical approach to painting early in his career, favoring the palette knife over brushes to create richly textured, impassioned works.
His unique painting technique—dubbed Simbaresco—utilized thick impasto, rhythmic linework, and large fields of vibrant color. Simbari masterfully balanced figuration and abstraction, often focusing on sunlit architecture, boats, and the coastal life of Southern Europe. His ability to distill light, mood, and motion into pure color made his paintings instantly recognizable.
Though rooted in postwar modernism, Simbari's work stands apart for its warmth and narrative quality. His bold use of acrylics on canvas evoked both the heat of the Mediterranean sun and the breezy atmosphere of coastal towns. Simbari's influence remains visible in the work of contemporary painters who seek to capture emotion through color and form.