Under a Lucky Star: The Emblem of the Italian Republic on Display at

The exhibition

Under a Lucky Star presents the origin and evolution of the emblem of the Italian Republic, designed by Paolo Paschetto and officially adopted in 1948. The show is hosted at the Casina delle Civette (Musei di Villa Torlonia) in Rome and runs from 27 March to 27 September 2026.

Exhibition route

The display is arranged in thematic sections that move from historical context to the artist’s practice:

• Italians at the ballot box: materials tied to the 1946 institutional referendum and the Constituent Assembly period.
• Competitions and sketches: drawings, competing proposals and the selection process that led to the emblem.
• Graphic applications: studies for postage stamps and editorial graphics of democratic Italy.
• Artist’s workshop: original tools (paints, compasses, set squares, engraving equipment) illustrating Paschetto’s creative method.
• Multimedia: an interactive map of Paschetto’s works in Rome and audio-video material, including an interview with historian Daniele Jalla.

Symbolic meaning

The emblem combines three core elements that express the Republic’s values:

• The star: an ancient iconographic sign representing the nation.
• The cogwheel: a reference to work, a founding principle enshrined in the Constitution.
• The olive and oak branches: symbols of peace, strength and the dignity of the Italian people.

The exhibition highlights how a graphic idea became a national symbol, celebrating Paschetto’s role and the historical moment that produced the emblem.

Practical information

• Dates: 27 March – 27 September 2026
• Venue: Casina delle Civette, Musei di Villa Torlonia, Rome
• Organised by: Roma Capitale – Department of Culture and the Capitoline Superintendency for Cultural Heritage
• Curators: Sara Rivoira, Federica Tammarazio, Gaia Dammacco

Recommended for anyone interested in graphic design, emblematic imagery and modern Italian history: the exhibition combines archival material, studio objects and interactive displays to offer both historical insight and a close look at the artist’s creative process.