Maria Barosso's watercolors of Rome's fascist demolitions at Centrale Montemartini

Centrale Montemartini in Rome has launched the first solo exhibition dedicated to Maria Barosso (Turin, 1879 – Rome, 1960), showcasing 137 pieces that illustrate the urban demolitions initiated by Mussolini. Barosso worked alongside Giacomo Boni and Antonio Muñoz, documenting ancient structures and excavations. Her watercolors capture the devastation of various neighborhoods, such as the puppet theater at Arco dei Saponari, which was torn down in October 1929, and the Compitum Acilium, removed for the construction of Via dell'Impero. The exhibition is organized by Roma Capitale in collaboration with La Sapienza. The accompanying catalog, edited by Ilaria Miarelli Mariani and others, features 78 contributions and more than 400 color illustrations. Barosso stood out as the sole female draftsperson in her domain, often eclipsed by prominent figures.