Nicola Peccheneda

Who was Nicola Peccheneda?

Nicola Peccheneda was an Italian painter of Campania and Basilicata in the second half of the 18th century. He initially trained in Naples, likely in the studio of Francesco de Mura. He adopted the reigning style of Francesco Solimena. While he came from a family including professionals; he moved back to his native Polla, and despite painting in the region, lived until he died.

A work from 1756 depicting San Donato di Ripacandida was destined to the convent of San Francisco of Auletta. He decorated of the churches of Santa Maria of the Greeks and Santa Caterina in Caggiano, and the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Sant’ Arsenio, the Cathedral of Melfi, the church of the Annunziata in Marcianise. He was prolific and his paintings can be found in Altavilla Silentina, Atena Lucana, Buccino, Giffoni Valle Piana, Padula, Petina, Polla, Romagnano al Monte, Sassano, Teggiano and Vibonati in Campania, as well as Brienza, Brindisi di Montagna, Cirigliano, Maratea, and Marsico Nuovo in Basilicata. He was elected mayor of Polla.