“Here Italy Is Made. The Image of the Hero from Bistolfi to Baroni” –

Here Italy Is Made. The Image of the Hero from Bistolfi to Baroni

The exhibition at the Salone Vitoli of the Museo Civico e Gipsoteca Bistolfi in Casale Monferrato presents a focused study on how the figure of the hero was depicted in Italian art from the early years of national unification through the post–First World War era. A significant portion of the display comes from the “Martelli-Bistolfi 2021/2023” donation, including restored and partly unpublished works.

Thematic outline and exhibition route

The show traces the shift from a classical, rhetorical representation of heroism to new interpretations linked to collective sacrifice after the Great War. It highlights Bistolfi's legacy and how later artists reinterpreted heroic imagery in response to modern upheavals.

• Featured artists: Leonardo Bistolfi, Eugenio Baroni, Gaetano Previati, Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo, Plinio Nomellini, Libero Andreotti, Eliseo Sala.
• Works on display: drawings, bas-reliefs, plaster sculptures, paintings and restored archival materials.
• Scientific committee: Sandra Berresford, Leo Lecci, Aurora Scotti.

Catalogue and resources

The exhibition is accompanied by a full‑color 175‑page catalogue published by Fondazione De Ferrari ETS, featuring scholarly essays, institutional introductions and extensive imagery. Copies will be available at the museum ticket office.

Guided visits and activities

Museum staff will run several guided visits; participation requires the regular admission ticket plus a small extra fee for the guided tour.

• Guided visit dates: Sunday 5 April, Saturday 11 April, Sunday 19 April, Saturday 25 April (starting at 16:00).
• Guided tour supplement: €4 in addition to the admission fee.

Practical information

• Dates: 28 March – 28 June 2026.
• Venue: Museo Civico e Gipsoteca Bistolfi, Salone Vitoli, Casale Monferrato.
• Opening hours: Thursday 8:30–12:30 / 14:30–16:30; Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10:30–13:00 / 15:00–18:30.
• Admission: full €8, reduced €5 (students up to 24, over 65, affiliated groups and school groups), free for compulsory school students, visitors with disabilities plus companion, journalists and pass holders.

The exhibition is supported by regional partners and local sponsors. For group bookings, tailored visits or catalogue availability, contact the museum ticket office for details and reservations.