'Here Italy Is Made. The Image of the Hero from Bistolfi to Baroni' — exhibition in Casale Monferrat

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

From 28 March to 28 June 2026 the Museo Civico e Gipsoteca Bistolfi in Casale Monferrato presents the exhibition "Here Italy Is Made. The Image of the Hero from Bistolfi to Baroni" in the Salone Vitoli. The show explores how the public image of the hero evolved from the early years of unified Italy through the aftermath of World War I.

Highlights

• Works from the "Martelli-Bistolfi 2021/2023" donation, including drawings, bas-reliefs and plaster sculptures, many restored for this presentation.
• A comparative focus on Leonardo Bistolfi and Eugenio Baroni, illustrating the shift from classical, idealised forms to expressions shaped by modern upheavals and wartime experience.
• Paintings and sculptural works by Gaetano Previati, Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo, Plinio Nomellini, Libero Andreotti and Eliseo Sala, which broaden the exhibition's historical and stylistic perspectives.
• Scholarly contributions by the scientific committee (Sandra Berresford, Leo Lecci, Aurora Scotti) that frame the works within their cultural and historical context.

Catalogue

A full‑colour catalogue (175 pages), published by Fondazione De Ferrari ETS, includes essays by the curators and an extensive iconographic section. It is available at the museum ticket office for 25 €.

Guided visits and practical information

The museum staff will lead in-depth guided tours on selected dates. Participation requires the museum entrance fee plus a small guided-tour supplement.

• Guided tour dates: Sunday 5 April, Saturday 11 April, Sunday 19 April, Saturday 25 April — all at 16:00.
• Guided tour supplement: 4 € in addition to the entrance fee.
• Museum opening hours:
  • Thursday: 8:30–12:30 / 14:30–16:30
  • Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 10:30–13:00 / 15:00–18:30
• Tickets:
  • Full ticket: 8.00 €
  • Reduced: 5.00 € (students up to 24, over 65, affiliated associations, groups >10 people)
  • Free entry for: compulsory-school students, people with disabilities and one companion, journalists, holders of the Museum Pass

Organisation and support

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the City of Casale Monferrato, the Rotary Club Casale Monferrato and Fondazione De Ferrari, with the support of regional and provincial institutions and local partners. Loans from museums and private collectors complete the selection.

Useful contacts

• Venue: Museo Civico e Gipsoteca Bistolfi — Salone Vitoli, Casale Monferrato
• Period: 28 March – 28 June 2026
• Museum phone: +39 0142 444309
• Secretariat: +39 0142 444249
• Email: [email protected]

This exhibition is recommended for researchers, students and visitors interested in the role of art in shaping national identity and public memory in post‑unification Italy.