GIOVANNI MATALONI (1869-1944) LA TRIBUNA. 1897. 61 1/2x42 1/2 inches, 156x108 cm. Stab. A. Marzi, Rome. Condition B+: repaired tears, creases and abrasions in margins and image; restoration along vertical and horizontal folds. Two sheets. Mataloni became a lithographic apprentice at Milan's famed Ricordi Studio in 1891. In 1895 he designed a poster for Bec-Auer lamps, which propelled him, and the Italian Liberty Style, to fame. Throughout his career Mataloni worked with different publishers, printers and magazines (for whom he did illustrations, covers and advertising). For the Roman newspaper La Tribuna he creates a beautiful allegory of the Press. He presents a fashionable, cosmic editor, with the stars above her, bent over the earth in search of news to report. She is poised with a quill in one hand, and notebook in the other. Both her winged headdress and the telegraph lines that cross the bottom of the image beautifully suggest commerce, the speed of information and modern technology. This is the smallest of at least 3 formats. Menegazzi 3, Fit to Print 145 (var).
