Enrico Lombardi, Roman Gallerist Who Bridged Generations of Italian Painting, Dies at 71
Enrico Lombardi, who was born in Rome in 1955, passed away on 16 October 2026. He established Galleria Lombardi in 1977 at Via del Babuino 70, following his family's long-standing engagement in Rome's art community since the 1960s. The gallery highlighted international graphics and fostered relationships with Italian artists. In the mid-1980s, Lombardi shifted his focus to painting, especially the Scuola Romana. He was a co-founder of Roma per l'Arte and served the Associazione Gallerie d'Arte Nazionale. His son Lorenzo took over the gallery in 2014, which relocated to Via di Monte Giordano 40 in 2015. Lombardi continued to curate exhibitions and engage in various projects until his passing. The funeral is scheduled for 19 October at 11:30 at Chiesa degli artisti, Santa Maria in Montesanto, Rome.
Key facts
- Enrico Lombardi was born in Rome in 1955 and died on 16 October 2026.
- He opened Galleria Lombardi in Rome in 1977 at Via del Babuino 70.
- His family had been active in Rome's art scene since the 1960s with Galleria La Vetrata (founded by brother Roberto Lombardi) and Galleria Nuovo Vertice (led by father Osvaldo Lombardi).
- The gallery initially focused on international graphics, showing Giorgio de Chirico, Pablo Picasso, Wifredo Lam, Lucian Freud and Surrealists.
- From the mid-1980s Lombardi concentrated on painting, especially the Scuola Romana, 20th-century masters and new generations.
- He co-founded Roma per l'Arte with Luigi Martini, Enrico Crispolti, Ennio Calabria and Guido Strazza, and participated in parliamentary hearings on art-sector regulation.
- In 2014 Lorenzo Lombardi became artistic director; in 2015 the gallery moved to Via di Monte Giordano 40, Rome.
- Recent curatorial projects include I Favolosi anni '60 e '70 a Milano (2022), Figurazione anni '60 e '70 (2024), La poetica della luce (2024), Segni dell'anima (2025–2026) and Mario Schifano. Io guardo (spring 2026).
- The funeral will be held on Monday 19 October at 11:30 at the Chiesa degli artisti, Santa Maria in Montesanto, Piazza del Popolo, Rome.
Entities
Artists
- Enrico Lombardi
- Lorenzo Canova
- Roberto Lombardi
- Osvaldo Lombardi
- Lorenzo Lombardi
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Pablo Picasso
- Wifredo Lam
- Lucian Freud
- Renato Guttuso
- Fausto Pirandello
- Ennio Calabria
- Renzo Vespignani
- Luigi Martini
- Enrico Crispolti
- Guido Strazza
- Riccardo Guarneri
- Antonio Sanfilippo
- Carla Accardi
- Mario Schifano
Institutions
- Galleria Lombardi
- Galleria La Vetrata
- Galleria Nuovo Vertice
- ARGAM
- Roma per l'Arte
- Associazione Gallerie d'Arte Nazionale
- Camera dei Deputati
- Fondazione Terzo Pilastro – Internazionale
- Auditorium della Conciliazione
- Musei di San Salvatore in Lauro
- Pio Sodalizio dei Piceni
- Martedì Critici
- Chiesa degli artisti, Santa Maria in Montesanto
- Artribune
- Galleria Enrico Lombardi
- Chiesa di Santa Maria in Montesanto
- Chiesa degli Artisti
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Milan
- Via del Babuino 70
- Via di Monte Giordano 40
- Piazza del Popolo
- via del Babuino