Emilio Notte

Portrait of Maurizio Valenzi, 1976, oil on canvas, 70×60 cm

(1891-1982) Emilio Notte participates in the currents of post-impressionism and futurism, also passing through cubism. Since 1929, his relationship with Naples is dated, where he trained numerous artists, teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts, of which he was also Director until 1963. 

The portrait of Maurizio Valenzi by Emilio Notte exhibited in the show was created in 1976 at Notte's house, during a brush competition. The two artists, in fact, met one Sunday morning, while Maurizio Valenzi was already the mayor of Naples, challenged each other to paint each other's portrait and then give it to each other. In a short film shot by Notte's son, Riccardo, then an eight-year-old boy, the two painters are seen joking, smoking, and finally eating a plate of spaghetti. The video of the "challenge" is available on the Youtube channel of the Valenzi Foundation.