The Vittoriale degli Italiani experienced a historic moment on Saturday, June 29th with the inauguration of the largest private collection of D’Annunzio documents in Italy, the Paglieri Collection. This event marks a significant step for the preservation and study of Gabriele d’Annunzio’s life and works, enriching the cultural heritage of the Vittoriale and the Abruzzo region.
The collection, acquired by the Vittoriale degli Italiani, includes thousands of documents, manuscripts, drafts of works, correspondence, autographs, and many unpublished materials. Coming from the private collection of the Paglieri family, this extraordinary collection offers a unique and detailed insight into the life of the poet and the history of the Vittoriale.
The president of the Vittoriale, Giordano Bruno Guerri, emphasized the cultural importance of this acquisition, calling it one of the most significant ever made by the Vittoriale. “With this acquisition, we bring to the Vittoriale the largest collection of D’Annunzio materials existing outside of our archives,” said Guerri. The Abruzzo region collaborated in the operation, acquiring the modern library of the Paglieri Fund, which will be located in Pescara, creating a second important reference point for D’Annunzio scholars.
During the inauguration, Debora Paglieri, daughter of collector Mario Paglieri, recounted the history of the collection. The passion for D’Annunzio began with her grandfather Lodovico Paglieri in the 1930s and was passed on to her father Mario, who significantly expanded the collection. Now, Debora continues to care for and preserve this heritage, convinced that it should not remain confined to a private collection.
The inaugural event included the presentation of the exhibition “Vedi, vedi: queste sono le carte che ti volevo mostrare” (See, see: these are the papers I wanted to show you), which will be open to the public until October 15, 2024. This exhibition offers a detailed and in-depth view of the Paglieri Collection, displayed in a room named after Mario Paglieri inside the Gian Carlo Maroni Holy Factory Museum at the Vittoriale.
Among the exhibited materials are 1800 copies of special editions, monographs, and translations of D’Annunzio’s works, 1000 letters from the poet to various correspondents, and another 200 letters from friends and collaborators, as well as musical scores, posters, personal and family documents, agendas, and account books of architect Gian Carlo Maroni. This vast collection of documents allows for an accurate reconstruction of D’Annunzio’s biography and the history of the Vittoriale.
In parallel with the Paglieri Collection, exhibitions by Mauro Reggio and Paolo Delle Monache were also inaugurated, further enriching the cultural offering of the Vittoriale.
Mauro Reggio’s exhibition, titled “Architettura d’avanguardia” (Avant-garde Architecture), presents fifteen oil paintings that explore the urban landscape and Lake Garda. Reggio’s works, exhibited at the MAS, offer a unique and innovative vision of the Vittoriale, highlighting the architectural perspectives and colors without human presence. Among the exhibited works are “Lago di Garda” (Lake Garda), “Frutteto” (Orchard), and “Laghetto delle danze” (Dance Pond), which capture the substantial beauty of the spaces at the Vittoriale.
Paolo Delle Monache, on the other hand, presents the exhibition “Diario tra memoria e oblio” (Diary between Memory and Oblivion), set up in the Vittoriale Park. His bronze sculptures investigate the fragmented nature of memory and its ability to evoke and reinterpret places. The works, such as “Diario” (Diary) and “Tra memoria e oblio” (Between Memory and Oblivion), create a harmonious dialogue with the surrounding environment, evoking feelings of nostalgia and melancholy.
Italian Version
