Aug 03, 2023 - Sale 2643

Sale 2643 - Lot 40

Price Realized: $ 2,080
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 4,000

LEOPOLDO METLICOVITZ (1868-1944)

"DISTILLERIE ITALIANE / ALCOOLÈNE" / LUCE CALORE. 1902.


80x55 inches, 203 1/4x139 1/4 cm. Ricordi & C., Milan.
Condition B+: losses, replaced losses, repaired tears, creases and abrasions in margins and along vertical and horizontal folds. Two-sheets. Mounted on Chartex.

Born in Trieste, Metlicovitz went to Milan in 1892 and began working for the Ricordi publishing house, where he learned about poster design under the tutelage of Adolfo Hohenstein. Metlicovitz quickly became a master in his own right, establishing himself as one of the preeminent Italian graphic designers of his era. He was one of the most versatile poster artists and could transform his style from tender Art Nouveau imagery to statuesque allegory. Throughout his career, Metlicovitz produced over 100 posters for commercial products, exhibitions, operas and the film industry. This is the second poster Metlicovitz designed for this lighting company that produced early incandescent lights. For his first poster in 1897, the text touted the gas and alcohol appliances. Here the text extols the simplicity of use, safety, low maintenance costs and absence of bad smell. Manifesti 44.

Additional Details

Property of Penn State's Palmer Museum of Art, sold to benefit the acquisitions fund.