Symbolism in Italy at Fondazione Magnani-Rocca: origins, themes and works (1883–1915)

Symbolism in Italy: a focused exhibition on a decisive transition

From 14 March to 28 June 2026 the Fondazione Magnani-Rocca in Mamiano di Traversetolo (near Parma) presents "Symbolism in Italy. Origins and developments of a new aesthetic 1883–1915", featuring more than 140 paintings, sculptures and prints that retrace the shape of Symbolism in the Italian context.

Exhibition structure

The show is arranged in seven thematic sections that highlight recurring motifs: nature as a living organism, myth as a troubling space, the ambiguous female figure, landscape as a mental place, and the graphic sign as a means to approach the unseen. Curators distinguish sustained Symbolist positions from decorative or episodic borrowings.

Artists and European references

The selection includes key Italian names—Giovanni Segantini, Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo, Gaetano Previati, Giulio Aristide Sartorio—and significant sculptors and printmakers such as Adolfo Wildt and Libero Andreotti. European touchstones like Arnold Böcklin, Edward Burne-Jones, Franz von Stuck and Max Klinger are also present to frame cross-border influences.

• Works on display: over 140 paintings, sculptures and prints
• Timeframe: 1883–1915, a phase where Naturalism gives way to a more suggestive aesthetic
• Main focus: the shift from descriptive representation to evocation and enigma

Why see it

The exhibition clarifies the Italian trajectory of Symbolism by offering a structured overview of artists, themes and critical transitions, presenting the movement as a transformation in representational strategies rather than only a palette of moods.

Practical information

Venue: Fondazione Magnani-Rocca, Villa dei Capolavori, Mamiano di Traversetolo (PR)

Dates: 14 March – 28 June 2026

Opening times and tickets: check the Foundation's official website for opening hours, ticket prices and booking options before your visit.

Visitor tips

• Allow 1.5–2 hours to complete the route without rushing.
• Bring or download explanatory materials to deepen your understanding of thematic sections.
• Look for guided tours or educational resources to contextualize works within wider European exchanges.