Mussolini bronze bas-relief donated by Alessandro Pavolini to the Florentine Fasci, 1934

Large bas-relief in chiseled bronze and highlighted in gold, of the profile of the Duce Benito Mussolini, donated by the then Federal Secretary Alessandro Pavolini to the Federation of Combat Groups of Florence in 1934. There is in fact a bronze plaque, fixed on the original solid oak panel, (as can be seen in an original photo-postcard of the time) on which is written the dedication "to the Federation of Combat Groups of Florence with Unbreakable Faith Dr. Alessandro Pavolini in Imperituro Ricordo Donò - Florence, 20 May 1934 - XII". It can be said with absolute certainty that the bas-relief was donated on the occasion of the "handover," which took place on May 20, 1934, when Pavolini relinquished his position as Federal Secretary to Giulio Ginnasi to move to Rome, having been elected to Parliament. Later in his career, together with Giuseppe Bottai, he contributed to the conception and organization of the Littoriali della cultura e dell'arte.

The choice of this important sculpture was certainly not accidental for Pavolini, and nothing could have been more appropriate. As a man of art and culture, he wanted to purchase a work that fully reflected his loyalty to the Party, featuring the effigy of the Duce, and that it be created in his native Florence, a city to which he gave an aristocratic, cultural, and artistic connotation: artisan exhibitions, art exhibitions, and literary events were among the many initiatives of this Federalist. Among the most successful events inaugurated by Pavolini, the "Maggio musicale fiorentino" stands out, still one of the most important international art festivals. In this capacity, he also promoted the construction of the Florence-Mare highway and the central Santa Maria Novella train station.

Making the work even more historically significant, if that's possible, is the signature of the artist "Carlo Rivalta" (Florence, 1887-1941), a Florentine academic, sculptor, and engraver considered one of the most important masters of the 20th and 30th centuries. One of his works is exhibited at the Galleria d'Arte Moderna in Florence, and at the 1936 Venice Biennale, one of his sculptures was purchased for 2,000 lire by Engineer Marchese Giovanni Casati. This bas-relief was created by the "Artistic Property of the Casa di Benvenuto Cellini" of Commendatore and Professor Mario Nelli, also an important and renowned Florentine engraver and foundryman.

Important relic of great historical interest.