-
House of Art
Casa d’arte Bragaglia, Rome.
1918 - 1930 -
Journals founded
Foundation of journals La Ronda and Valori Plastici, promoting a ‘return to order’ after the disorder and destruction created by the avant-gardes.
1919 -
Manifesto signing
Contro tutti i ritorni in pittura, a Manifesto signed by Achille Funi, Mario Sironi, Leonardo Dudreville and Luigi Russolo to propose a return to construction in the visual arts after the end of Futurism.
1920 -
I Biennal in Rome
The I Biennale romana takes place at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni.
31 Mar - 30 Jun, 1921 -
Teatro degli Indipendenti founded
Anton Giulio Bragaglia founds the Teatro degli Indipendenti in Rome, promoting and spreading avant-garde theatre in Italy.
1922 -
Manifesto published
Manifesto dell’arte meccanica futurista published on La nuova Lacerba, signed by Ivo Pannaggi, Vinicio Paladini and Enrico Prampolini.
22 Jun, 1922 -
Mussolini’s speech at the Pesaro art Gallery
Mussolini’s speech at the Pesaro art Gallery in Milan on 26 March 1923 the occasion of the foundation of the Novecento italiano movement ‘Sette pittori del Novecento’.
26 Mar, 1923 -
Venice Biennial
Venice Biennial, Novecento artists stand out and receive praise.
1924 -
Teatro dell’Arte di Roma founded
Luigi Pirandello is nominated Director of the Teatro dell’Arte in Rome.
1924 -
First Futurist Congress
At the Teatreo del Verme, with 300 delegates, the Primo Congresso Futurista is held.
23 - 25 Nov, 1924 -
Fascist Manifesto
Manifesto of Fascist Intellectuals which establishes the ideological and intellectual foundations of Fascism, and identifies in the connection between culture and politics one of the hallmarks and strengths of Fascism. It was drafted by the philosopher Giovanni Gentile after the first Conference of Fascist Culture held in Bologna in the same year, and signed by several notable intellectuals, including Luigi Pirandello, Curzio Malaparte, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Margherita Sarfatti, Ardengo Soffici, and Giuseppe Ungaretti.
21 Apr, 1925 -
Anti-Fascist Manifesto written
Manifesto of the Anti-Fascist Intellectuals written by Benedetto Croce.
30 Apr, 1925 -
Istituto Luce creation
Creation of the Istituto Luce, which will produce and distribute countless documentaries and newsreels used by the regime as a crucial instrument for propaganda.
Nov, 1925 -
Novecento movement - first exhibition
14 February-March, first exhibition of the Novecento Movement in Milan, held at the Palazzo della Permanent, Galleria Pesaro, inaugurated with an official speech by Benito Mussolini.
1926 -
State Art movement born
In a speech given at the University of Perugia, Mussolini calls for an ‘arte di stato’ (State art), which has to be both traditional and modern. This ambiguity leaves room for the struggles for hegemony of different movements.
1926 -
Novecento journal starts
The journal Novecento, directed by Bontempelli and Malaparte, starts being issued.
1926 -
Gruppo 7 established
Establishment of ‘Gruppo 7’ by architect Carlo Emilio Rava, gathering rationalist architects Luigi Figini, Gino Pollini, Guido Frette, Sebastiano Larco, Giuseppe Terragni, Ubaldo Castagnoli, and Adalberto Libera.
1926 -
Mussolini founds Istituto Nazionale per la Rappresentazione dei Drammi di Gabriele D’Annunzio
Mussolini funds the foundation of the Istituto Nazionale per la Rappresentazione dei Drammi di Gabriele D’Annunzio, which will be inaugurated the following year with an incredibly successful performance of La figlia di Iorio, directed by Giovacchino Forzano.
1926 -
Fascist art debate
Debate on Fascist art on the journal Critica Fascista (1923-1943). Intellectuals are invited to share their ideas on what fascist art should be.
1926 - 1927 -
900. Cahier d’Italie et d’Europe founded in Rome
The journal 900. Cahier d’Italie et d’Europe is founded in Rome by Massimo Bontempelli and Curzio Malaparte.
1926 -
Prizes
The Mussolini Prize (Academy of Italy, 1931), the Viareggio Prize (1930), and the Bagutta Prize (1927).
1927 - 1930 -
'Futurist House' founded
Fortunato Depero moves to New York for two years. He founds there a ‘Futurist House’.
1928 -
Galleria Bardi founded
Pier Maria Bardi founds the Galleria Bardi in Milan.
1928 -
Exhibition of Rationalist Architecture
First Italian Exhibition of Rationalist Architecture in Rome, promoted by Adalberto Libera and Gaetano Minnucci. Foundation of the MIAR (Movimento Italiano per l'Architettura Razionale).
1928 -
Inchiesta
Inchiesta on the arts and the Corporations in Critica Fascista.
1928 -
XVI Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte held in Venice (the Venice Biennal)
The Venice Biennale gives significant space to Italian Futurism. President: Pietro Orsi. Secretary: Antonio Maraini.
05 - 10 Jan, 1928 -
Sindacato regionale fascista Belle Arti, Milan
I Mostra regionale d'arte lombarda, held at the Palazzo della Permanente. Honorary President: Giuseppe Bottai. President: Cipriano Efisio Oppo.
18 Nov - 30 Dec, 1928 -
Instituto Treccani founded
The Istituto Treccani, which becomes Istituto dell’Enciclopedia Italiana in 1933, is founded by industrialist and published Giovanni Treccani and by philosopher Giovanni Gentile. Between 1929 and 1937 it issues 35 volumes making up the Enciclopedia Italiana, a project of cultural research which saw the involvement of several intellectuals and academics.
1929 - 1937 -
Manifesto dell'Aeropittura Futurista published
22nd September, Manifesto dell'Aeropittura Futurista (of Futurist Aeropainting) is published, and signed by Benedetta Cappa, Fortunato Depero, Gerardo Dottori, Fillia, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Enrico Prampolini, Mino Somenzi and Tato.
1929 -
Novecento italiano second exhibition
March-April, II exhibition of the Novecento italiano movement, held at Palazzo della Permanente, Milan.
1929 -
I Exhibition of the Sindacato Laziale Fascista degli Artisti Italiani
I Mostra del Sindacato Laziale Fascista degli Artisti Italiani is held at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni. Giuseppe Bottai is the honorary President and Cipriano Efisio Oppo the President.
01 Mar - 30 May, 1929 -
Accademia d'Italia inaugurated
Inauguration of the Accademia d'Italia in Rome, which will appoint a number of intellectuals as 'accademici' receiving a monthly salary by the regime.
28 Oct, 1929 -
Venice Biennial taken over
The Venice Biennial goes from being managed and controlled by the city of Venice to being directly controlled and managed by the regime.
1930 -
Groupt des Sept exhibition
Groupt des Sept (Campigli, de Chirico, de Pisis, Paresce, Savinio, Severinei and Tozzi) exhibition in Paris organised by Mario Tozzi.
1930 -
XVII Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte held in Venice (the Venice Biennal)
The Venice Biennale gives again significant space to Italian Futurism with ‘La nuova pittura futurista’. President: Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata. Secretary: Antonio Maraini. Artists under 30 are admitted.
Apr - Oct, 1930 -
Manifesto drafted
Marinetti and Tato draft the Manifesto della Fotografia Futurista (of Futurist Photography) (published in January 1931).
1930 -
Novecento italiano Exhibition in Argentina
Novecento italiano exhibition in a Buenos Aires, Los Amigos de arte with 46 artists.
Sep, 1930 -
Galleria Bardi reopens
Galleria Bardi reopens as Galleria del Milione directed by Edoardo Persico and owned by the Ghiringhelli brothers. The Gallery will support especially the abstract movement.
05 Nov, 1930 -
Scipione and Mafai exhibition, Rome
At the Galleria d’arte di Roma, exhibition of the scuola romana: Scipione and Mario Mafai. Director Pier Maria Bardi.
08 - 27 Nov, 1930 -
Manifesto drafted
Marinetti and Fillia draft the *Manifesto dell’Arte Sacra Futurista (of Futurist Sacred Art).
1931 -
Manifesto written
Depero writes the Manifesto of Futurism and Advertising Art celebrating advertising as a new modern form of art.
1931 -
Rationalist Architecture second exhibition
Second Exhibition of Rationalist Architecture, after which rationalists partly lose the support of the regime, as a result of their sheer critique of more traditional forms of architecture, close to the regime. P.M. Bardi writes the Rapporto sull'architettura (per Mussolini) (Report on Architecture (for Mussolini), in which he promotes rationalist architecture as the only architectural style suitable to represent the Fascist regime.
1931 -
I Quadriennale Nazionale d'Arte opens
3 January-15 June, the first Quadriennale Nazionale d'Arte opens in Rome at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, organised by Cipriano Efisio Oppo and aiming at showcasing national art. President: Enrico di San Martino e Valperga. Secretary: Cipriano Efisio Oppo.
1931 -
Exhibition of Aeropainting
First Exhibition of Aeropainting held in Rome, 1-10 February. An expanded version of the Manifesto of Aeropittura is published.
Feb, 1931 -
Italian Film funding
A law is passed with which the regime officially starts funding Italian films.
Jun, 1931 -
Venice Biennial cinema section
The cinema section of the Venice Biennal is inaugurated (Esposizione internazionale d'arte cinematografica).
1932 -
Doctrine of Fascism published
Publication of the Doctrine of Fascism (Dottrina del Fascismo) and of the Italian Encyclopoedia (Enciclopedia italiana)
1932 -
'22 Artistes' Exhibition organised
22 artistes italiens modernes exhibition organised by Mario Tozzi at the Galerie Georges Bernheim in Paris.
1932 -
Railway Station design competition
In 1932 the competition is open for building the new railway station in Florence. The competition is won by the Gruppo Toscano led by Giovanni Michelucci and the station Santa Maria Novella is built between 1933 and 1935.
1932 - 1935 -
Venice Biennale campaign
The 1932 Biennale in Venice sees a strong anti-Novecento campaign.
1932 -
Design & Building of palace
Design and building of the palace of Justice in Milan by Marcello Piacentini. Piacentini initiates a massive programme of public art calling numerous leading artists to decorate the building.
1932 - 1940 -
Gallery closure
The Galleria di Roma, directed by P.M. Bardi, closes.
1932 -
XVIII Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte held in Venice (the Venice Biennal)
The Venice Biennale hosts the ‘Mostra dell’Aeropittura e della pittura dei futuristi italiani’. President: Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata. Secretary: Antonio Maraini.
May - Nov, 1932 -
Arturo Maraini replaces Cifriano Efisio Oppo
In July 1932, Oppo leaves his position of secretary of the Union of Fine Arts (Sindacato delle belle arti) to Maraini
Jul, 1932 -
Mostra della Rivoluzione Fascista inaugurated
Inauguration of the Mostra della Rivoluzione Fascista in Rome, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the March on Rome and the Fascist rise to power.
1932 -
V Triennal
V Triennal (Esposizione Triennale delle arti decorative e industriali modern e dell’architettura moderna), the first to be held at the Palazzo dell’Arte, which architect Giovanni Muzio designed and built in the Parco Sempione in Milan, especially for hosting the exhibition, and for including architecture in the exhibit. Direttorio organizzatore (directors): Carlo Alberto Felice, Giò Ponti, Mario Sironi.
1933 -
Manifesto of Mural Painting
The Manifesto della Pittura Murale (of Mural Painting) is published in the opening issue of the journal La Colonna, signed by Mario Sironi, Massimo Campigli, Carlo Carrà, and Achille Funi. Colonna is directed by Alberto Savinio and will cease publication in 1934.
1933 -
The Manifesto dell'Architettura futurista
The Manifesto dell'Architettura futurista (of Futurist Architecture) is drafted..
1933 -
Quadrante published from 1933 to 1936
Pier Maria Bardi and Massimo Bontempelli start publishing the monthly magazine, Quadrante. Rivista di architettura e cultura, in Milan.
1933 - 1936 -
Manifesto Futurista dell'Architettura Aerea written
Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Angiolo Mazzoni and Mino Somenzi write the Manifesto Futurista dell'Architettura Aerea.
1934 -
La Nuova Antologia competition
The journal La Nuova Antologia announces a competition for Italian writers to write 'a novel of the fascist time'.
1934 -
New corporate city
Completion of the works in the new corporate city of Sabaudia (Lazio).
1934 -
Palazzo del Littorio competition
Palazzo del Littorio competition.
1934 -
Esposizione dell'aeronautica italiana
Esposizione dell'aeronautica italiana is held at Palazzo dell'Arte, Milano
1934 -
Bas-Relief Murals manifesto
Fillia writes the manifesto Bas-Relief Murals, calling for new buildings to be decorated with murals depicting modern subjects.
Aug, 1934 -
XIX Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte held in Venice (the Venice Biennal)
The Venice Biennale hosts the ‘Mostra degli aeropittori futuristi italiani’ curated by Marinetti. President: Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata. Secretary: Antonio Maraini. Artists are invited personally.
Oct, 1934 -
II Quadriennale d'Arte Nazionale.
April, II Quadriennale Nazionale d'Arte, held in Rome at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni. No artistic groups allowed to be exhibited, only Futurism as a movement. President: Enrico di San Martino e Valperga. Secretary: Cipriano Efisio Oppo.
1935 -
University City La Sapienza opens
Opening of the University City La Sapienza in Rome.
1935 -
The Regime founds film school
The regime founds an important film school, the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia.
1935 -
Works begin on corporate city
Beginning of the works in Tresigallo (Ferrara) to build a corporate city in Emilia Romagna.
1935 -
VI Triennal
VI Triennale held in Milan, Palazzo dell’arte. Direttorio organizzatore (directors): Carlo Alberto Felice, Giuseppe Pagano, Mario Sironi.
1936 -
Convegno Volta (theatre), Rome.
Convegno Volta (theatre), Rome.
1936 -
Mostra Augustea della Romanità staged
Mostra Augustea della Romanità staged by Giulio Quirino Giglioli at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni to mark the bi-millennial birth of Emperor Augustusmillennial birth of Emperor Augustus
1937 -
Opening of Cinecittà.
Opening of Cinecittà.
21 Apr, 1937 -
Minister for Education gives 2 speeches
Minister for Education, Bottai gives two speeches: 'Lineamenti di una politica dell'arte' (Venice, 1 June 1938) and 'Direttive per la tutela dell'arte antica e moderna' (Rome, 4 July 1938). On both occasions he stresses the link between arts and politics.
1938 -
Jewish patron leaves Italy
Jewish Patron of the arts, Margherita Sarfatti, leaves Italy to go to South America.
1938 -
Le Arti founded
The journal Le Arti is founded (1938-1940).
1938 - 1940 -
Corrente di vita giovanile is founded
The journal Corrente di vita giovanile is founded in 1938 to be closed in 1940.
1938 - 1940 -
XXI Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte held in Venice (the Venice Biennal)
The Venice Biennale hosts the ‘Mostra dei Futuristi aeropittori di Africa e di Spagna’ curated by Marinetti. President: Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata. Secretary: Antonio Maraini.
Jun - Sep, 1938 -
Bonifica culturale begins
Beginning of the 'bonifica culturale' which prohibited the publication and distribution of Jewish and anti-fascist authors
1939 -
III Quadriennale d'Arte Nazionale.
February-July, III Quadriennale, held in Rome at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni. President: Enrico di San Martino e Valperga. Secretary: Cipriano Efisio Oppo.
1939 -
Premio Cremona established
Giuseppe Farinacci establishes the conservative Premio Cremona.
1939 - 1941 -
Premio Bergamo established
Giuseppe Bottai establishes the Premio Bergamo as an opponent of the Premio Cremona, conceiving it as a more progressive prize and less subjected to politics.
1939 - 1942 -
Exhibition of Italian Contemporary art in New York
Mostra d’Arte Contemporanea Italiana, Italian Pavillion at the Universal Expo in New York.
1939 -
Mostra d’Arte Contemoranea
Mostra d’Arte Contemporanea is held at the Palazzo della Permanente in Milan. Issue n.6 of the journal Corrente di vita giovanile is used as exhibition catalogue.
18 Mar, 1939 -
II Corrente exhibition
Seconda Mostra di Corrente, held at the Galleria P. Grande in Milan. Enrico Prampolini takes part in the exhibition.
15 Dec, 1939 -
University of Rome design & building
Design and building of the new University of Rome La Sapienza, led by Marcello Piacentini with the collaboration of many of the most renowned architects of the day.
1940 -
Support of the Arts
Ufficio per l'arte contemporanea at the Direzione Generale delle Antichità e Belle arti. The Office was responsible for supporting the arts in general and not any individual movement.
1940 -
Primato published
Publication of the journal Primato. Lettere e arti d’Italia directed by Guiseppe Bottai.
1940 - 1943 -
XXII Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte held in Venice (the Venice Biennal)
The Venice Biennale hosts the ‘Futurismo italiano. Gliaeropittori e l’aeroritratto simultaneo’ curated by Marinetti. President: Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata. Secretary: Antonio Maraini.
May - Oct, 1940 -
Decree of February 9
The Decree of February 9 (D.M. 9. 2.42) rationed the use of paper and forbade new publications as well as the resuming of suspended or suppressed ones.
1942 -
XXIII Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte held in Venice (the Venice Biennal)
The Venice Biennale hosts the ‘Aeropitture di guerre cosmiche biochimiche sacre documentarie meccaniche espressioni trasfiguratrici dell’infinitamente grande e dell’infinitamente piccolo in velocità voli micidiali maringuera matite di fuoco e dinamismi astratti’ curated by Marinetti with a long accompanying text. The Corrente movement is also represented with Bottai’s endorsement. President: Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata. Secretary: Antonio Maraini.
Jun - Sep, 1942 -
IV Quadriannale
May-July, IV Quadriennale held in Rome at the Palazzo della Permanente. President: Enrico di San Martino e Valperga. Secretary: Cipriano Efisio Oppo.
1943 -
Anti-fascist exhibition, ‘L’arte contro la barbarie’
Organised by the left-wing newspaper L’Unità, an anti-fascist art exhibition is held at the Galleria di Roma.
23 Aug - 05 Sep, 1943
