To mark the 239th anniversary of the Nunziatella Military School in Naples, Francesco Pascotto, a former student of the institute, has enriched the school's contemporary art collection with 239 prints by Ugo Nespolo. The works, numbered and signed by the artist, measure 35 x 35 cm.
The Nunziatella, founded on November 18, 1787, by order of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, is one of the oldest military schools still active in Europe. The project curated by Pascotto establishes a dialogue between the institute's historical memory and contemporary languages: each anniversary thus becomes an opportunity to add a new work to the collection that narrates the School through different perspectives.
Nespolo's work represents the eighth stage of this journey. The artist's work reflects his expressive style of colors, letters, numbers, and symbols, incorporating references to the dates 1787 (the year of foundation) and 2026 (the 239th anniversary) into his characteristic numerology.
The collection's development project began in 2016 with Fabio Vettori, author of 229 copies dedicated to the School, and subsequently saw contributions from other authors, including Iabo, Marco Lodola, Mark Kostabi, Milo Manara, and Gianpiero D'Alessandro. In 2022, based on Pascotto's idea, Domenico Sepe created a life-size bronze statue depicting a Nunziatella student.
According to Pascotto, the initiative has more than just artistic value: it creates a bridge between the ancient military institution, with its rites and discipline, and the world of contemporary art, giving the works the function of collective testimony and memory shared by former students and the community linked to the School.
