Jack Vettriano retrospective in Rome: curator interview

A major retrospective of Scottish painter Jack Vettriano (1951–2025) opened at Palazzo Velli in Rome, following its debut at Palazzo Pallavicini in Bologna. Curator Francesca Bogliolo explains that the exhibition, conceived with the artist and his foundation, became a posthumous tribute after Vettriano died on March 1, 2025, days after the Bologna opening. The Rome show includes oil paintings and high-quality museum-grade reproductions (limited to two copies, signed and certified) chosen by the artist, not for sale. Bogliolo highlights Vettriano's accessible, cinematic style that resonated with the public but drew criticism from the art establishment. The exhibition features thematic sections on dance, female portraits, and intimate scenes, plus a series of photographic portraits by Francesco Guidicini, taken in Vettriano's London studio in 2013 and previously shown at the National Portrait Gallery. Guidicini's images capture the artist's introspective side, echoing the characters in his paintings.