Emilio Larocca, a leading figure in Lucanian painting, was born in Trecchina in 1932. He was introduced to the “magic” of colors at a young age by Maestro Mariano Lanziani, who inherited the art of fresco and portrait painting and created figurative and landscape paintings and large altarpieces. A painter with 80 personal and collective exhibitions in his hometown, Potenza, Florence, and Naples (where he worked for several years), Larocca has received various awards, including the International Prize “Puglia” (for sacred frescoes) and the “Grand Prix International d’Art Contemporaine” in Venice, as well as the Silver Medal from the President of the Republic. A member of several academies, he has been an ambassador for “his” land in Italy and abroad for over fifty years. His paintings can be found in the Vatican, Spain, North and South America, in churches, public and private collections. His work has been reviewed by influential critics and specialized art magazines.
Academies
1973
– Tiberina (Rome)
– Leonardo da Vinci (Rome)
– International Studies and Exchanges Center (Committee Member)
– Study Center for the History of Popular Traditions of Basilicata, Puglia, and Calabria (Committee Member)
1983
– Academia Gentium “Pro Pace” (Rome) Registered in the States of Michigan and Oregon, chartered by the State of Ohio (U.S.A.) – “Duomo” Circle, Salerno
Selected Prizes
1971: Lucania Philatelic Club Potenza – XXX National Exhibition of Collections –
First Prize Gold Medal
1972: First Prize Gold Medal, Potenza
1973: First Prize Interregional Exhibition of Painting and Drawing, Bella
1974: National Competition La Ginestra (City of Poppi)
1974: Award for the tribute exhibition at the Michelangelo Gallery (Florence) “Towards the Year 2000”
1976: First Prize III Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, Lavello IV Regional Exhibition of Painting “Enal”
1977 and 1981: First Prize for Instant Painting “Maratea and Its Landscapes”
1978: II Biennale of Sacred Art “Pompeii” “Gran Premio City of Pompeii” Award
1978: “Biagio Mercadante” Painting Award, Sapri – First Prize ex aequo:
1979: Regional Union of Philatelic and Numismatic Circles of Lucania, Potenza, Gold Medal Class of Honor
1980: First National Prize “Minopolis,” Painting and Sculpture
1981: XX National Literary Grand Prix (Salerno) Absolute Prize for the fear “Towards the Year 2000”
1982: “Grand Prix International d’Art Contemporaine” (Venice)
1983: XXII National Literary Grand Prix (Salerno) Absolute Prize
1983: “New York City” Trophy
1983: “The Golden Oak” Cultural Award for Artistic Merits (Rome)
1988: National Painting Competition Laino Borgo (CS) 1st Prize
1988: XXVIII Competition “Towards 2000,” Salerno – Silver Medal from the President of the Republic
1989: International Award Puglia – Bari (for Sacred Frescoes)
1998: Paul Harris Fellow – Recognition from the Rotary Club of Lauria
Religious works for
churches and convents
The Madonna of Fatima – Maratea, Chapel of the same name
The Path of Man – Maratea, Monastery-Institute “De Pino”
The Mysteries of the Rosary and the Four Evangelists – Rivello, Church of S. Maria del Poggio
The Good Shepherd – Rivello, Church of S. Maria del Poggio
The Seven Sacraments – Castellammare di Stabia (Sa), Parish of Madonna dell’Arco
Life of St. James the Apostle: The Calling of St. James, Apparition of the Madonna del Pilar, The Martyrdom of the Saint – Lauria, Church of S. Giacomo Apostolo
The Glory of Saint Egidio – Latronico, Basilica of Saints Egidio Abate
The Madonna of Mount Carmel – Latronico
The Madonna of the Rosary – Latronico
St. Nicholas of Bari – Lauria, Church of S. Nicola
St. Francis of Assisi – Mason Vicentino (Vc), Hermitage of S. Pietro
The Supper at Emmaus – Trecchina, Church of S. Michele Arcangelo
Blessed Domenico Lentini – Lauria, Church of S. Nicola
Works in public and private collections
(in Italy and abroad)
Busto Arsizio, Quadrilateral Municipal Palace – work Terra lucana (oil on canvas cm. 51×68)
Lugo di Vicenza, Villa Godi Valmarana – portrait of N.H. Remo Malinverni (cm. 50 x 70) Collection of 19th-century paintings
Jequié (Brazil) – portrait of the Marquis Spinola exhibited in the Gunnasium
Florence – Michelangelo Gallery
Potenza – Palazzo Regione Basilicata
Potenza – Banca Mediterranea
Naples – Artist Gallery
Pamplona (Spain) – Retablo Arte
Pamplona – Academia Irudi
Marano (Na) Artistic Center of Marano
Vatican City – CEL
Episcopia – Municipal Palace
Trecchina – Town Hall
Exhibitions
1969: Nemoll – group exhibition (4th prize)
1970: Lagonegro – group exhibition led. Prize Lucanian Review, Trecchina – solo exhibition
1971: Potenza – group exhibition VII ed. Annual prize “The best in sports and in art” CONI – Lucania Philatelic Club
1972: Potenza – group exhibition VIII “The best in sports, tourism, and culture”, Brescia – group exhibition Enal XV National Competition “Art in Leisure Time”
1973: Imperia – group exhibition Enal IV National Exhibition of Oil Paintings, Rome – group exhibition Enal VII Regional Painting Exhibition
1974: Atella – group exhibition I “Vitalba” Trophy, Sant’Agnello (Na) – group exhibition National Competition of Instant Painting “V. Migliarde”, Potenza – group exhibition XXXIII National Exhibition of Collections LFC, Potenza – group exhibition II Biennale of Painting (3rd place – silver medal), Poppi (Ar) – group exhibition I National Competition “La Ginestra”
1975: Vico Equense (Na) – solo exhibition Gallery “La Scintilla”, Florence – solo exhibition Gallery “Cancelli”
1976: Maratea – group exhibition II ed. Prize of Instant Painting
1977: Sapri (Sa) – group exhibition II Prize of Instant Painting “B. Mercadante”, Lavello – group exhibition IV Regional Painting Exhibition (silver medal), Potenza – group exhibition EPT, LFC XXXIII National Exhibition of Painting (Honor Class – Silver Medal), Maratea – group exhibition III Instant Painting, Sapri – group exhibition Pro Loco, Gallery “B. Mercadante”
1978: Potenza – solo exhibition Art Center “L’Incontro”, Sapri – group exhibition III Instant Painting “B. Mercadante” (1st prize ex aequo)
1979: Salerno – group exhibition Gallery “Il Varo”, Potenza – group exhibition XV Interregional Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, Lavello – group exhibition VI Regional Exhibition (Honor Class)
1980: Trecchina – solo exhibition, Ruoti – group exhibition V Conference of Lucanian Historiography, Monopoli (Ba) – group exhibition of Painting and Sculpture
1981: Irsina – group exhibition of Lucanian artists, Trecchina – solo exhibition, Naples – bipersonal exhibition Gallery “La Vetta”, S. Nicola Arcella (Cs) – group exhibition Cultural Artistic Group
1982: Trecchina – solo exhibition, Naples – solo exhibition Hospital Cardarelli Hall, Pagani (Na) – group exhibition Cultural Center Associated Artists
1983: Naples – solo exhibition Gallery “La Vetta”, Naples – group exhibition Gallery “La Vetta”, Trecchina – solo exhibition, Pompeii – group exhibition V Illustrated Biennale
1984: Vicenza – group exhibition II ed. National Painting Competition “V. Rubbi Dall’Armellina”, Potenza – solo exhibition Studio 10 Arte, Lavello – group exhibition IX Regional Painting Exhibition, Naples – group exhibition Cultural Study Center Margellina “Tris d’arte primavera”, Trecchina – solo exhibition
1994-1995-1996: Trecchina – solo exhibition
1996: Trecchina – solo exhibition “Watercolors”
1997-1998-1999: Trecchina – solo exhibition