From Liberty to Italian design. 1900-1940

Vittorio Zecchin - the Arabian Nights - 1914

Heirs to a great tradition in art and craftsmanship, the decorative arts in early 20th century Italy reflected the people's desire to see the march of progress in a country that had only recently been united. Cabinet makers, potters and master glaziers often worked hand in hand with the leading artists of the day, eventually producing a fully-fledged "Italian style" which was to have a major impact on the birth of modern design. 

Gio Ponti - Bilia - 1931

This was a time of "paradoxical optimism", of intense creativity against the backdrop of a society experiencing deep and far-reaching changes, initially fuelled by the hopes aroused by the Giolitti government but soon forced to suffer the trauma of the Great War and the resulting tragedy of Mussolini's Fascist Regime.

Fortunato Depero - Campari puppet - 1927

The exhibition is organized by the Azienda Speciale Palaexpo in collaboration with the Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Exhibition conceived by Guy Cogeval
Curators Guy Gogeval, Beatrice Avanzi, Irene de Guttry, Maria Paola Maino

Rome

Paolazzo delle Esposizioni

16 October 2015  17 January 2016

The sweet life?