L’evoluzione della rappresentazione di Giovanni Cena nella memoria pubblica (1918-1927)

This article aims to highlight the place that Giovanni Cena occupied in the public imagination after his death on the basis of the monumental tributes paid to his memory from 1918 to 1927. Three commemorative artifacts were dedicated to the so-called apostle of education of the peasants of the Agro Romano and Pontine Marshes: the plaque on the façade of the School of Colle di Fuori (1918); the plaque under the porch of the School of Casal delle Palme (1921); the funeral monument in his native Montanaro (1927). Analyzing the three monumental sources – jointly with the related printed commemorative materials, in particular those containing inaugural speeches – enables to trace the development of the memorial narrative on Cena from his late liberal civil exaltation to his fascist religious sublimation; thus, the monument at Montanaro Cemetery – which was erected as the Lateran Treaty was drawing near – consists of the sculptured face of Christ. The public use of memory is also studied: inaugural ceremonies provide the promoters of Cena’s memorialization an opportunity to deal with extra commemorative issues.