Giuseppe Sacconi

By Fabio Mariano

Subjects: Architecture, national monuments, Architecture and state, Monumento nazionale Vittorio Emmanuele II (Rome, Italy), Eclettism, History

Description: The "Vittoriano" is the most important national monument representing the "Unità d'Italia". Built in memory of the king Vittorio Emanuele 2nd - the maker of italian unity with his Prime Minister Camillo Cavour - it was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi, a young architect coming from the Marches, that won the international competition in 1884. Sacconi tried to compose in his drawings the whole most significant ornament set of solemn decorations representig the ancient italian architecture. Result was a typical eclettic architecture of XIXth century, which historical quality is today finally revalued. Inaugurated in Rome (Piazza Venezia) on june 04, 1911 in the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Italy's unification, the monument was completed only after the death of his designer (1905). The study goes along again the story af the building site, the archeologycal excavations, the sculptural masterpieces and their artists, together with the Sacconi's architectural curriculum and vocational training. The book was published on june 04, 2011, in the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the Vittoriano.