Celebrate Italian Heritage Month with an exploration of the unique role the Museum’s stunning 1933 Rotunda plays in the building history of our city. Italian scholar, Olga Zorzi Pugliese, presents an illustrated lecture that shines a light on the Italian artisans who created the dazzling mosaic canopy of the Rotunda ceiling. It is one of the finest examples of its kind in Canada, and highlights the important role of Italian Canadian contributions to building Toronto in the first half of the twentieth century. 

Both the talk and an audience Q&A will take place in the Eaton Theatre. After, participants are invited to a light reception featuring the tastes of Italy under the Rotunda’s magnificent mosaic ceiling.

This program is in partnership with the Consulate General of Italy, and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Toronto. The program is offered with the support of Famee Furlane Toronto, CIBPA, Masters Insurance, IC Savings, Villa Charities and Mapei.

Program Partner: 

Speaker:

Olga Zorzi Pugliese

Olga Zorzi Pugliese is Professor Emerita in the Department of Italian Studies at the University of Toronto. She is a scholar of Italian and a world authority on the Italian Renaissance, particularly Baldassarre Castiglione, one of its major authors. A former president of the Canadian Society for Italian Studies, she was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Canadian Society for Renaissance Studies in 2008. She has authored and edited many publications on Renaissance topics and the Italian community in Canada, most notably on mosaic artwork by Italian craftsmen in Canada and on the Italian Canadian artist Albert Chiarandini.

Recorded June 23, 2024