The history of the National Library of Naples in the central years of the 900th century (1928 -1979) through the life and work of Guerriera Guerrieri. Documents taken from personal files kept in the historical archive of the National Library, newspaper articles, period photos kept in the photographic archive, printed publications illustrate the important contribution she provided to the Institute, to the city of Naples and to the South.
A native of Cortona (1902-1980), Guerrieri followed her family and moved to Naples where she completed her university studies. In 1928 she chose to volunteer at the National Library, which in 1927 had been transferred to the Royal Palace on the initiative of Benedetto Croce and had incorporated the city's historic libraries: Provincial, Palatine, San Giacomo, San Martino and Brancacciana.
The exhibition reconstructs the terrible days of the war and the continuous bombings that hit the Royal Palace and the halls of the National Library, the yellowed images testify to the willpower, the practical sense and the foresight of Guerrieri, director of the Library since 1942, in dealing with the war emergency: the securing of the most valuable works in shelters in some locations in the region and inside the Royal Palace. The documents show the passionate librarian, faithful to her task who, intent on this difficult task, always managed to ensure the public use of catalogues and printed volumes both before and after the arrival of the Allied forces.
The exhibition documents the life of the library after 1945: the reconstruction work of the damaged rooms, the new arrangement of the rooms open to the public, the offices and the book deposits. Guerrieri dedicated herself to this work, supported by Benedetto Croce. In 1957 Guerrieri inaugurated the restored rooms on the first and second floors, which still today largely retain the layout she adopted.
A large space in the exhibition is dedicated (with correspondence and archive documents) to Guerrieri's relationship with Croce, her constant point of reference until the philosopher's death in 1952, who, as can be read in the documents, always supported her activity with the Allied and Italian government authorities.
The exhibition through documents and publications also shows Guerrieri's intense exhibition activity in enhancing the considerable heritage of which the Library was the custodian. From the beginning of her career, in fact, she favored with great modern intuition the organization of important bibliographic exhibitions, convinced that they favored the formation of the consciences of young people and citizens as well as making the many treasures of the library appreciated.
In 1937, on the occasion of the centenary of Giacomo Leopardi's death, an exhibition was set up under his care with autographs and correspondence, in the Neapolitan bibliographic exhibition of '48, 240 pieces were exhibited including manuscripts, autographs, documents, periodicals, books, drawings. In 1950, on the occasion of the Holy Year, the Bibliographic Exhibition for the history of the Church in Campania and Calabria was set up with over 162 manuscripts and printed books, some of which were very precious, such as the Codice purpureo rossanese. In 1951, the exhibition for the 50th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi's death was a real event that allowed the exhibition, in addition to autographs and archive papers, of the watercolors of the costumes for the performance of Aida in Cairo lent by the National Library of Paris, and the bust of Verdi, a masterpiece by Vincenzo Gemito. One of Guerrieri's last commitments as director concerned the celebrations of the seventh centenary of Dante's birth in 1965. Rare manuscripts and printed books containing Dante's works and commentaries preserved in the Neapolitan libraries were exhibited.
Also on display are the numerous cataloguing and bibliographic publications that Guerrieri authored and which are still references today for all those who work in libraries.
The visit to the exhibition, with free admission, is part of the visit itinerary to the Library (reading room and frescoed rooms, rooms and historical collections on the second floor) on Monday and Friday from 12 to 13 and from 16 to 16,30 (visits for groups and schools by reservation bn-na.urp@cultura.gov.it)
Article published on March 13, 2023 - 16pm
