On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the election of the Constituent Assembly (1946-2026), an exhibition dedicated to the history of the national emblem created by Paolo Paschetto
Paolo Paschetto (Torre Pellice, 1885-1963) is a versatile artist and one of the most representative figures in the cultural heritage of the Casina delle Civette.
The exhibition illustrates the process that led to the selection of Paschetto's design, beginning on 19 June 1946, when a legislative decree of the President of the Council of Ministers invited the Constituent Assembly to choose the distinctive Emblem of the Italian Republic. The appointed Commission, chaired by the Honourable Ivanoe Bonomi, launched a competition open to artists and technicians, providing the guideline that designs should meet criteria of simplicity and intelligibility, and that the star of Italy be included among the symbols. As many as 341 candidates responded, and Paschetto's sketch was initially chosen in a first version that did not, however, convince, leading to a second competition, from which the Piedmontese artist again emerged as the winner. On 5 May 1948, Italy adopted its symbol, which has since remained unchanged in its constituent elements: the star, the cogwheel, and the branches of olive and oak.
The artist's participation in the public competition and the various stages in which it unfolded are presented in the exhibition through original documents from the Paschetto Archive of the Waldensian Table, and documents in anastatic copy, preserved at the State Archives of Turin, contemporary printed clippings, and more recent illustrative material, in addition to a series of multimedia insights.
THE SECTIONS OF THE EXHIBITION The exhibition route is divided into four sections. 1. In the first, Italians at the Polls, sketches of postcards for voting are presented. 2. This is followed by the stages of the competitions for the Emblem, illustrated by the drawings presented to the Commission by Paschetto and the other finalists (Lalia, Luperini, Morbiducci, Retrosi), up to the winning design, commented on by the press review of the time. 3. The third section presents a series of sketches for the creation of commemorative stamps for Italia Democratica and the magazine Italia Filatelica. Numerous tools of the artist's work are on display, including: colours, compass, set squares, and materials for engravings. 4. In the fourth section, a map of the city indicates the places where one can admire the works that Paschetto created in Rome. The exhibition is completed by a video featuring an interview with historian Daniele Jalla, also available online.
The emblem The emblem of the Republic is characterised by three elements. The star, one of the most ancient objects in our iconographic heritage, has always been associated with the personification of Italy, on whose head it shines radiant. The cogwheel, a symbol of work, translates the first article of the Constitution: "Italy is a democratic Republic founded on labour." Finally, the branches of olive and oak: the first symbolises the nation's will for peace, both in the sense of internal concord and international brotherhood, while the second embodies the strength and dignity of the Italian people. Both, moreover, are expressions of the most typical species of our arboreal heritage.