SALVATORE EMBLEMA
Salvatore Emblema was born in 1929 in Terzigno, near Naples, where he attended the Liceo Artistico and the Academy of Fine Arts. From a young age, he immersed himself in painting, drawing inspiration from the surrounding nature. He captured its essence, using natural elements to create unique colors and atmospheres. In 1954, Ugo Moretti introduced him to Monsignor Ennio Francia, who was opening the Vatican Museums to contemporary art at the time. Pope Pius XII commissioned a portrait from Emblema, which was later acquired by the Vatican Museums. Emblema also met Rockefeller, who was passing through Rome, and became one of his collectors, marking the beginning of his career. In 1955, Emblema moved to New York, where he was warmly received by Rockefeller and met artists like Rothko and Pollock. A key turning point in his artistic journey was meeting art critic Giulio Carlo Argan, who was introduced to him in New York. Argan immediately recognized Emblema's talent, and the two developed a close, respectful collaboration. Returning to Italy in 1958, Emblema faced financial difficulties, so he painted on burlap and made his own frames. This period gave rise to his "detessitura" phase, where his works, rich with colors drawn from his beloved land, solidified his reputation as a master. In 1969, Argan offered him a teaching position in Rome at the Academy of Fine Arts, but Emblema declined and chose instead to retreat to Terzigno. In 1981, Giulio Carlo Argan selected some of Emblema’s works for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, where they remain today. From 1972 onward, Emblema exhibited in some of the most prestigious galleries across Italy and abroad. In 1982, he participated in the XL Venice Biennale, and that same year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York acquired five of his paintings. The Museum Boymans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam also exhibited and acquired his works. Emblema passed away in 2006. A recent retrospective of his work, curated by Sylvain Bellenger, was held at the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.
→ 01 SENZA TITOLO, 1979, coloured earths on jute canvas, cm 60x50
→ 02 SENZA TITOLO, anni '70, coloured earths on jute canvas, cm 70x60
