The exhibition in the Historical Building of the National Museum focuses on the life and work of Giambattista Bodoni (1740–1813), one of the most important typographers and typesetters in history. Bodoni, who came from a printing family, founded a royal printing house in Parma and later his own private workshop, from which he produced typographically magnificent works.

The exhibition traces Bodoni's journey to typographic excellence, from his early years in his father's printing house, to his work for the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in Rome, to his success in Parma. The exhibition introduces Bodoni's revolutionary style, which is characterized by a striking contrast of thin and thick strokes of type and an emphasis on the harmony between text and free space.

The exhibition also documents Bodoni's collaboration with important figures of his time, including Duke Ferdinand of Parma and the King of Spain. The exhibition presents Bodoni's most important prints, including the Manuale tipografico, a specimen book of typefaces published after Bodoni's death by his wife Margherita Paola.