The Vittoriale degli Italiani has recently acquired the largest private collection of D’Annunzio documents in Italy, known as the Paglieri collection, marking an important milestone in the institution’s history. This extensive collection includes thousands of documents, manuscripts, correspondences, and autographs that will allow for a detailed reconstruction of the poet’s biography and the history of the Vittoriale.
On June 29th, as part of the event “Vedi, vedi: queste sono le carte che ti volevo mostrare” (See, see: these are the papers I wanted to show you), President Giordano Bruno Guerri will present this significant acquisition to the public. It is the most important collection of D’Annunzio documents ever obtained by the Vittoriale.
The Paglieri collection includes thousands of documents, including manuscripts, drafts of works, correspondences, autographs, and notes. Many of these materials are unpublished and come from the largest private collection dedicated to Gabriele d’Annunzio in Italy. Giordano Bruno Guerri emphasized the cultural importance of the acquisition, stating, “With this acquisition, we bring to the Vittoriale the largest D’Annunzio collection existing outside of our archives. It has been a significant financial investment, but above all, an operation of great cultural value.”
In addition to the main collection destined for the Vittoriale, the Abruzzo Region has acquired the modern library of the Paglieri Fund. This will allow the city of Pescara to have a library dedicated to D’Annunzio, becoming a reference point for scholars and historians.
The history of the collection dates back to the 1930s with Lodovico Paglieri, an entrepreneur from Alessandria and an avid reader of D’Annunzio’s works. His son, Mario Paglieri, inherited this passion and continued to enrich the collection until it became what it is today. Debora Paglieri continues to care for this precious heritage with the intention that it does not remain confined within private walls but is accessible to the public.
Among the treasures included in the collection are 1800 special editions of D’Annunzio’s works in various languages, autographed messages, letters published in facsimile, and musical scores composed for his works. Of particular interest are the 1000 letters written by D’Annunzio to various correspondents and 200 letters received by him or his collaborators.
A significant element consists of documents from the office of architect Gian Carlo Maroni, which include agendas, ledgers, and invoices related to the construction of the Vittoriale.
The collection will be housed in a room named after Mario Paglieri within the Museo della Santa Fabbrica Gian Carlo Maroni at the Vittoriale degli Italiani. This room will be open to scholars interested in further exploring the life and work of the renowned Italian poet.
In conclusion, the acquisition of the Paglieri collection represents a significant enrichment of Italy’s cultural heritage and offers new opportunities for the in-depth study of Gabriele D’Annunzio’s work and life.
Italian Version
