Italian visions for a world fair that bridged nations and cultures
This volume presents Giuseppe Dassi’s early drafts and correspondence surrounding the Philadelphia International Exhibition of 1876 and a bold project for an Italian exhibition in Rome. It reveals how ideas of labor, capital, and national pride met urban planning, architecture, and diplomacy.
The pages offer a documentary glimpse into how 19th‑century reformers imagined using grand exhibitions to educate, unite, and inspire. From prefaces and letters, readers see how activists connected economic renewal with cultural achievement, across oceans and among many nations.
- Historical context for the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition and Italy’s anticipated involvement.
- Strategies for financing large public projects and the role of government support.
- Architectural ambitions to repurpose famous structures into spaces for industry and art.
- Cross‑cultural dialogue about labor, capital, peace, and the advancement of civilization.
Ideal for readers of 19th‑century history, international exhibitions, and the interplay between culture and public policy. If you’re curious about how ideas of liberty and progress traveled across Europe and America, this book offers a window into those conversations.