Faustino Joli’s 1848 Cycle: Risorgimento Figure Studies in Bologna

Faustino Joli’s 1848 Cycle: Risorgimento Figure Studies in Bologna

Period: 11 April - 19 July 2026 (opening: 10 April at 17:00).

The Museo civico del Risorgimento in Bologna stages an exhibition dedicated to Faustino Joli (Brescia, 1814–1876), presenting for the first time a coherent corpus of his military figure studies. The show explores connections between the "Ten Days of Brescia", the 1848 uprisings and cultural ties between Bologna and Lombardy.

Highlights

• 77 figure studies in oil on cardboard, arranged in nine framed panels—functioning as a visual catalogue of contemporary uniforms.
• Preparatory drawings and notes from a sketchbook held at the Biblioteca Queriniana in Brescia, revealing Joli’s working method from observation to painting.
• Comparative works from the same period that contextualize urban episodes of 1848.
• Original 1848 uniforms and objects from the museum’s collections, including a newly identified uniform attributed to the Bolognese Legion.

Why go

The exhibition provides a documentary and pictorial reading of the Risorgimento through Joli’s eye—often described as a "chronicler with a brush". The figure studies allow close analysis of uniform details, unit types and civic life during the uprisings, while the collaboration with Lombard and regional institutions broadens the historical perspective.

Curators and partnerships

Curated by Isabella Stancari and Otello Sangiorgi, the project was developed with partner institutions that preserve Risorgimento holdings, highlighting both the museum’s permanent collections and loans from Brescia, Ravenna, Bergamo and Milan.

Practical information

• Dates: on view from 11 April to 19 July 2026; opening event on 10 April at 17:00.
• The exhibition is concise and accessible to scholars and general visitors interested in the local and military history of the Risorgimento.
• Check the Museo civico del Risorgimento’s official channels for opening hours and ticketing details.