I castelli nei periodici illustrati del primo Ottocento in Italia

Abstract

[EN] European publishing in the early 19th century promoted the dissemination and knowledge of historical heritage through illustrations. For the first time, ordinary people could see depictions of buildings that had marked the milestones and workings of civilisations over time and in different places. The favoured historical period was the Middle Ages, a time in which the noble origins of European peoples were rooted. Castles were the emblem of those civilisations whose national identity needed to be sustained. In this contribution, we look at castles published in Italian magazines from 1834 to around 1850. A selection of the castle subjects depicted and commented on has allowed us to address the graphic and figurative aspects, to dwell on some of the information and narratives offered to the public with the intention of elevating them culturally. What emerges is a singular picture in which the defensive or military-technical aspect was not considered, but the castles were given their historical character.