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acquarello-carta-cartone

It was March 1915 when the City of Genoa entrusted Plinio Nomellini with the task of designing the poster for the inauguration of the Monumento ai Mille (Monument to the Thousand), which was to take place in Quarto the following 5 May with the participation of Gabriele D'Annunzio. The poster was to be replicated in two thousand copies to be affixed in Genoa and neighbouring municipalities. The Museum preserves the original sketch in tempera on paper.
The result is not only a celebratory graphic work, but a powerful instrument of political and cultural communication. Its function goes far beyond the simple promotion of an event: it is part of a crucial moment in Italian history, just a few days before the country's entry into the First World War (24 May 1915), and reflects the climate of patriotic and interventionist fervour that permeated public opinion. Poster commemorating the departure of the Thousand depicting a young boy in the foreground waving a red flag, behind him on the left armed volunteers are recognisable by their red shirts.