Fifty years of humor accompany Milan in the long transformation that will bring the city of Milan to take on the role of economic and industrial capital of our country, from the Italian Unity to the first decade of the twentieth century,.
Humorous and satirical magazines
Both pre- and post-unification, Milan has been home to many significant humorous and satirical magazines, examples of that "lighter" branch of literature that aims to represent the disharmony, contrasts and complexity of real life by following, illustrating and mocking characters and events. From the first ("L’uomo di pietra") to the best-known ("Il Guerin Meschino") all the way through to "Bertoldo"
Mezzo secolo di caricatura milanese : (1860-1910) (1928) by Otto CimaBiblioteca Sormani
The Beretta mayoralty
One of the prime targets was the first mayor of Milan, Antonio Beretta, and his policy of "Great Works".
He was responsible for the appearance of the city centre as we know it today, with the unified design of Piazza Duomo, and for the construction of the Gallery.
Cinquant'anni di vita milanese (1836) by Antonio CurtiBiblioteca Sormani
Mezzo secolo di caricatura milanese : (1860-1910) (1928) by Otto CimaBiblioteca Sormani
The project with the greatest impact, the construction of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, was entrusted to Giuseppe Mengoni. The city would never be the same again.
La galleria Vittorio Emanuele (1881) by Emilio De MarchiBiblioteca Sormani
Il cinquantenario della posa della prima pietra della galleria Vittorio Emanuele (1912) by E. A. MarescottiBiblioteca Sormani
Mezzo secolo di caricatura milanese : (1860-1910) (1928) by Otto CimaBiblioteca Sormani
The excessive costs of carrying out the works emptied the municipality's coffers, leaving a deficit of over 30 million at the time. The mayor subsequently resigned.
Mezzo secolo di caricatura milanese : (1860-1910) (1928) by Otto CimaBiblioteca Sormani
The Belinzaghi mayoralty
Giulio Belinzaghi was elected with the task of reorganising the budget, a job carried out with diplomacy and great poise.
Mezzo secolo di caricatura milanese : (1860-1910) (1928) by Otto CimaBiblioteca Sormani
Note sull'esercizio delle tramvie urbane (1906) by Comune di MilanoBiblioteca Sormani
During his two terms (1868 - 1884 and 1889 - 1892), Milan's public transport system was organised.
Note sull'esercizio delle tramvie urbane (1906) by Comune di MilanoBiblioteca Sormani
Mezzo secolo di caricatura milanese : (1860-1910) (1928) by Otto CimaBiblioteca Sormani
Not just politics
Politicians are not the only ones targeted by caricatures: cultural figures also come under fire
...like the great publisher Emilio Treves…
Mezzo secolo di caricatura milanese : (1860-1910) (1928) by Otto CimaBiblioteca Sormani
…or the writer, journalist and historian Giuseppe Rovani.
Bianca Cappello : dramma storico in cinque giornate (1839) by Giuseppe RovaniBiblioteca Sormani
Mezzo secolo di caricatura milanese : (1860-1910) (1928) by Otto CimaBiblioteca Sormani
Giulio Ricordi
And finally, a special mention goes to Giulio Ricordi for the enormous influence he had in the field of music, not only for his work as a publisher, but also as an adviser and friend to gentlemen like Verdi, Ponchielli and, above all, Giacomo Puccini.
Mezzo secolo di caricatura milanese : (1860-1910) (1928) by Otto CimaBiblioteca Sormani
Turandot di Giacomo Puccini alla Scala : aprile 1926, prima edizione (1926)Biblioteca Sormani
