Under a Good Star: The Emblem of the Italian Republic in Paolo

Under a Good Star. The Emblem of the Italian Republic in the Drawings of Paolo Paschetto

This exhibition reconstructs the steps that led to Paolo Paschetto’s selection as the author of the emblem of the Italian Republic. Through sketches, archival records and original studio materials, the show explores both the public contest and the artistic choices behind the symbol still in use today.

The exhibition route

The display is divided into four thematic sections designed to lead visitors from the referendum to the emblem's production:

• The voters: sketches and materials related to the 1946 popular consultation.
• The competition stages: drawings submitted by Paschetto and other finalists, with documents that trace the selection process.
• Commemorative imagery and philately: proposals for stamps and graphic works tied to the Democratic Italy imagery.
• Paschetto’s works in Rome: a map showing locations where the artist’s works can be seen around the city.

The emblem and its meaning

The emblem includes symbolic elements with clear meanings: the star as a national identifier, the dental wheel representing labor and the constitutional foundation, and the olive and oak branches symbolizing peace and the people’s strength and dignity, respectively.

Materials and further resources

On display are original documents from the artist’s archive, archival facsimiles, period press clippings and Paschetto’s working tools (paints, compasses, engraving materials). The exhibition is enriched by multimedia stations and a filmed interview with a historian, also accessible online.

Practical information

When: from 27 March to 27 September 2026

Where: Dependency of the Casina delle Civette – Musei di Villa Torlonia, Via Nomentana 70, Rome

Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–19:00 (closed on Monday)

Info and bookings: phone 060608 (daily 09:00–19:00) and official Villa Torlonia museum websites.