Extemporaneous Painting Exhibition - Beato Nunzio Sulprizio National Prize

A live painting competition in the heart of the Gran Sasso

The Extemporaneous Painting Exhibition - Beato Nunzio Sulprizio National Prize is the most anticipated cultural event in Pescosansonesco, a small town in the Province of Pescara, Abruzzo, perched at the foot of the Gran Sasso within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. Every August 15th, the day of Ferragosto, the village transforms into an open-air studio: painters invited from all over Italy create their works on-site, allowing residents and visitors to witness the creative process in real time.

The extemporaneous format is the heart of the event: artists do not exhibit finished paintings but paint live along the staircases, small squares, and most picturesque corners of the historic center, drawing inspiration from the mountain landscape and the August light. At the end of the day, a jury composed of painters, art critics, and municipal representatives evaluates the canvases and awards prizes, including the main recognition named after the local citizen Nunzio Sulprizio.

A prize dedicated to the saint of Pescosansonesco

The event bears the name of Nunzio Sulprizio, who was born in Pescosansonesco in 1817. A young worker whose life was marked by illness and hardship, he died at just nineteen in Naples in 1836. Beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1963, he was proclaimed a saint by Pope Francis on October 14, 2018. The village has dedicated a sanctuary carved into the rock to him, which is a pilgrimage destination. The painting prize, established when he was still a Blessed, keeps his memory alive and spreads his story far beyond the borders of Abruzzo.

Art, tradition, and patronal feast

On August 15th, the exhibition is part of the celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption, one of the community's most heartfelt occasions. The day dedicated to art is accompanied by religious rites, moments of conviviality, and the village's popular traditions, including a performance depicting the life of Saint Anthony, staged with music and costumes. Admission is free, and the event takes place outdoors, between the municipal building on Via Municipio and the streets of the village.

A long tradition

The event boasts a long-standing continuity: as early as 2012, the twelfth edition was celebrated, testifying to a deep-rooted tradition that over the years has attracted artists from Puglia, Tuscany, Marche, Lazio, Campania, Sicily, Lombardy, and Abruzzo. Over time, the extemporaneous event has become a true National Prize, capable of combining the promotion of contemporary art with the enhancement of one of the most characteristic villages in the Pescara hinterland.