Il sogno degli umanisti:
la proposta italiana di un’Accademia
internazionale della Pace e di una
Convenzione per la protezione del
patrimonio artistico e culturale, 1949
Elena Franchi
After the Second World War, an international convention for the protection of cultural heritage in times of conflict was urgently needed. On the 11th January 1949, a meeting took place in Rome, in order to found an International Peace Academy, and to draw up a convention concerning the protection of monuments, artworks, archives and libraries. Italy was represented, among the others, by Rodolfo Siviero, Giulio Carlo Argan, Pietro Toesca, Guido Castelnuovo, president of the Accademia dei Lincei, Achille Marazza, UnderSecretary of State of the Ministry of Interior, officials of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign countries were represented by well-known art historians living in Rome, and ministerial officials. Humanists were claiming their role in the construction of peace.