Mario Pompei. Being a Set Designer. Sketches, sets, and costumes

A tribute to the genius of the stage

From September 19 to November 8, 2026, the Sale Betto Tesei of the Civic Museums of Palazzo Pianetti, in Jesi, Province of Ancona, will host the exhibition Mario Pompei. Being a Set Designer. Sketches, sets, and costumes. The exhibition celebrates one of the most multifaceted and fascinating figures of the Italian 20th century: a set designer, illustrator, and poster artist, considered a pioneer of modern Italian set design and children's theatre.

Who was Mario Pompei

Born in 1903 and raised in Rome, where he died in 1958, Mario Pompei began his adventure in the world of entertainment at a very young age, collaborating with the famous Teatro dei Piccoli by Vittorio Podrecca. Throughout his career, he designed sets for operas, ballets, and variety shows, also working for prestigious theaters. He also dedicated himself to illustrating books and magazines for children, interpreting Italian Art Deco taste with an unmistakable style.

What you will see at the exhibition

The exhibition path brings together materials from the Pompei Archive and highlights the creative process that links drawing to the emotion of the stage:

• Sketches of stage sets focusing mainly on opera
• Sketches for drama and variety shows, testifying to the artist's versatility
• Sets and costumes that tell the story of the transition from idea to stage
• A special section dedicated to Pinco Pallino, the fantastic character created by Pompei between 1929 and 1930, amidst dreamlike architectures and bizarre figures

The exhibition design is by set designer Benito Leonori, technical director of the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini, while the scientific curation is entrusted to art historians Pierfrancesco Giannangeli and Maria Letizia Paiato.

For schools and families

The exhibition offers educational activities for schools and families, designed by Petra Leonori, with a particular focus on the imaginary world of Pinco Pallino: an opportunity to introduce children to the theater, drawing, and the magic of set design.

A project spread across the Marche region

The Jesi exhibition follows the preview hosted at the Museo di Palazzo Ricci in Macerata (April 18 - June 2, 2026) and enriches the exhibition with new materials. The project is promoted by the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini, the Municipality of Jesi, and the Region of Marche, in collaboration with the Museo di Palazzo Ricci of Macerata and the Academy of Fine Arts of Macerata. It was accompanied by the musical fairy tale Le peripezie di Pinco Pallino, staged at the Teatro Pergolesi in Jesi.