Alberto Ziveri

Alberto Ziveri (Rome, 1908 – Rome, 1990) was one of the most significant Italian painters of the 20th century, renowned for his narrative realism and his association with the Scuola Romana. Born in Rome, Ziveri attended the Liceo Artistico and the evening school of Arti Ornamentali at San Giacomo, where he began to develop his artistic talent. His first solo exhibition was held in 1933 at the Galleria Sabatello on Via del Babuino, and by 1936 he had participated in the Venice Biennale, establishing himself as one of the emerging figures in the Italian art scene.

Ziveri distinguished himself for his realist poetic style, characterized by a masterful use of chiaroscuro in the 18th-century manner and a deep attention to urban landscapes and scenes of everyday life. His works, such as the series of Notturni and Fermate di tram, reflect a poetic vision of reality, far from abstraction and political polemics. Over the years, his artistic research was enriched by a spiritual and plastic dimension, influenced by masters such as Piero della Francesca. Among his most celebrated works are Composizione (1933), Postribolo (1945), La rissa (1938), and numerous oil and watercolor paintings such as Maiali (1938) and Pollivendole (1938).

Alberto Ziveri participated in numerous national and international exhibitions, including the III Quadriennale di Roma in 1939 and the XXVIII Venice Biennale in 1956, where he was awarded a personal room. In 1959, he was included in the exhibition Sguardo alla giovane scuola romana dal 1930 al 1945, organized for the VIII Quadriennale di Roma. His exhibition activity extended abroad, with participation in traveling exhibitions in the United States and the Middle East. Ziveri remained active until his death in Rome in 1990, leaving behind an artistic legacy of great value for the history of 20th-century Italian painting.