Francesco Vaccarone at Palazzo Merulana: The Roman Years (1970–1976)

Francesco Vaccarone in Rome (1970–1976) — Palazzo Merulana

On view until 3 May 2026, Palazzo Merulana stages an exhibition dedicated to Francesco Vaccarone (La Spezia 1940–2024). The selection highlights his painting, printmaking and sculptural work from the years he spent in Rome, underlining the influence of the city's artistic milieu on his practice.

Curated by Umberto Croppi and Paolo Asti, the show traces Vaccarone’s development during a decisive phase: how encounters and workshops in Rome shaped his investigations into figure, space, memory and urban landscape, and how these themes are expressed across different media.

Highlights

• Early works: pieces that foreshadow later themes, including assemblages and the series labelled as 'Mitofanie'.
• Major cycles: the 'Seagulls' and 'Clochard' series, where semi-abstract signs meet socially charged subjects with occasional ironic undertones.
• Prints: an uncommon copy of the 'In articulo amoris' portfolio and other plates demonstrating his mastery as a printmaker.
• Portrait sketches: quick studies and drawings recording his encounters with important cultural figures.

Vaccarone’s time at the Stamperia Il Cigno—an important hub for artists and engravers—left clear traces in his work: a tactile approach to color, an incisive line in printmaking and a synthesis between avant-garde impulses and Italian pictorial tradition.

Practical information

Venue: Palazzo Merulana, Rome. Dates: exhibition open until 3 May 2026. For opening hours, ticketing and guided tours, please consult the museum’s official channels.

Produced by the cultural association Startè and promoted by the artist’s family, the exhibition fills a gap in the narrative of late 20th-century Italian art by focusing on a formative chapter of Vaccarone’s career and presenting key works that connect engraving practices with broader contemporary research.