Giovanni Omiccioli

Giovanni Omiccioli, born in Rome on February 25, 1901, and died in Rome on March 1, 1975, was one of the most representative painters of the Scuola Romana. His art, deeply rooted in the Roman territory and culture, made him a symbol of Via Margutta painting, a street frequented by artists, intellectuals, and artisans. Omiccioli, self-taught and the eldest of a large family, began his artistic career in 1934, distinguishing himself for his depictions of Roman landscapes, everyday life scenes, and dynamic football matches, which made him particularly beloved by the common people. His first solo exhibition was held in 1937 at the Galleria Apollo in Rome, where he presented three works at the IV Mostra del Sindacato Fascista di Belle Arti.
Throughout his career, Omiccioli collaborated with major figures of the Scuola Romana such as Mario Mafai, Antonietta Raphaël, Scipione, and Raffaele Frumenti. He frequented the Osteria Fratelli Menghi, a meeting point for artists and intellectuals from the 1940s to the 1970s, and distinguished himself also for his political commitment: in 1945, immediately after the Liberation, he created the first cover of L’Unità together with Mafai, Guttuso, and Afro. Between 1941 and 1945, he produced the expressionist series of Orti, and later painted the cycle of Periferie, focusing on Roman suburbs and their inhabitants. In the 1950s, he traveled throughout Italy and abroad, including Vercelli, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, in search of new inspirations.
Omiccioli participated in numerous collective and solo exhibitions, earning recognition such as the Premio Marzotto in 1953. His production, characterized by a clear and detail-oriented style, ranges from landscapes and still lifes to scenes of popular life and portraits, showing post-impressionist and fauve influences.