Contemporary architecture and ancient art: this is the pairing chosen by the Embassy of Italy in Washington to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence.
The exhibition “Art and Life in Imperial Rome: Trajan and His Times”, opening tomorrow at the Embassy of Italy, designed in 2000 by architect Piero Sartogo, explores the legacy of ancient Rome in the contemporary world through Roman statues and frescoes from Pompeii. Thanks to interactive devices powered by a dedicated artificial intelligence platform, visitors can talk to Emperor Trajan and discover the many connections existing between his time and contemporary America, ranging from the origins of institutions like the Senate to the classical influences found in Washington D.C..
The project, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and endorsed by the Ministry of Culture, features significant artifacts loaned by the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. With this stop, the exhibition concludes a U.S. tour that began at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and continued at the Saint Louis Art Museum.
The inauguration will be launched by the Secretary General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Riccardo Guariglia, and the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Marco Peronaci. Distinguished guests will include the Acting CEO for the U.S. Agency for Global Media Michael Rigas, and the Director of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Francesco Sirano. The event will be complemented by a reception and musical performance by soprano Angela Knight and the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Gianandrea Noseda.
The exhibition will be open to the public until January 31, 2027, via reservations on the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington’s website ( https://iicwashington.esteri.it/en/eventi/ )
September 24, 2026
