Sotto una buona stella. L'emblema della Repubblica Italiana nelle carte di Paolo Paschetto

The exhibition, held in the outbuilding of the Casina delle Civette - Musei di Villa Torlonia to mark the 80th anniversary of the election of the Constituent Assembly (1946-2026), focuses on the emblem of the Italian Republic designed by Paolo Paschetto, a versatile artist and one of the most significant figures in the cultural heritage of the Casina delle Civette.

On 19 June 1946, a legislative decree issued by the President of the Council of Ministers invited the Constituent Assembly to choose the symbol of the newly founded Republic. Simplicity and the inclusion of the Star of Italy were the criteria specified in the competition launched for its creation, which was open to artists and technicians. Of the 341 sketches submitted, Paschetto’s design was chosen in an initial version which, however, failed to convince, leading to the launch of a second competition from which the artist once again emerged as the winner. On 5 May 1948, Italy acquired its national symbol, which has remained unchanged in its constituent elements ever since: the star (which has always been associated with the personification of Italy), the cogwheel (symbol of labour), and the olive and oak branches (which express, respectively, the desire for peace and the strength and dignity of the Italian people).

The artist’s involvement in the public competition throughout its various stages is illustrated in the exhibition through original documents from the Paschetto Archive and facsimile copies held at the Turin State Archives, alongside newspaper clippings from the period and more recent illustrative material, as well as a series of multimedia features. Also on display are numerous tools used by the artist, such as paints, a compass, set squares and engraving materials. The exhibition features a map of the city showing the locations with Paschetto’s works in Rome, and a video interview with the historian Daniele Jalla, which is also available online.