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tempera su carta

This work by Giuseppe Isola contains many details that help to reconstruct the story of the birth of the Canto degli italiani. Behind the standing figure of the musician is in fact the score of Mameli's hymn, resting on the music stand of a piano, wrapped in the Italian tricolour, while in the background are images recalling Risorgimento events, most likely the events of the Five Days of Milan. The Maestro is holding a pen in his hand and the impression is perhaps that he has just got up from the stool where he has just finished writing the score of “Fratelli d'Italia”, which, according to tradition, he did in fact do so quickly thanks to a prompt inspiration, as soon as he received Mameli's text. Portrait of Michele Novaro. The composer is inside a frescoed room; behind him is the outline of a piano on which rests the score of the Canto degli Italiani.