Incandescenza – Giovanni Mattaloni, Plate 72 – 1897
Giovanni (Gianni) Mattaloni (Italian, 1852–1914)
Incandescenza, 1897
An original stone lithograph by Giovanni Mattaloni, issued as Plate 72 in Les Maîtres de l’Affiche, the monthly series published by Jules Cheret at Imprimerie Chaix, Paris, between 1895 and 1900. Each portfolio contained four numbered plates reproducing the most notable posters of the Belle Époque in reduced format.
Mattaloni’s Incandescenza promotes an early electric lighting product. The radiant female figure illuminated from within symbolizes the arrival of electric light, a technology that was rapidly transforming European cities. The design reflects Mattaloni’s distinctive Italian Art Nouveau style—combining flowing line, dramatic color, and a sense of motion characteristic of the Ricordi school.
Details
Original stone lithograph on wove paper
Printed by Imprimerie Chaix, Paris
From Les Maîtres de l’Affiche, Plate 72 (1897)
Sheet size: approximately 40 × 29 cm / 15.75 × 11.4 in.
Condition: Excellent; bright, clean impression on full sheet
Comments
A fine example from the series, highlighting Mattaloni’s contribution to Italian poster design and the era’s fascination with electric light.
Original stone-lithograph plate issued in 1899 at Imprimerie Chaix (Paris) for Les Maîtres de l’Affiche. This plate (no. 197) presents Adolfo Hohenstein’s celebrated poster for the Italian opera Iris, composed by Pietro Mascagni.
Premiered in Rome in 1898, Iris quickly spread to the great opera houses of Europe, admired for Mascagni’s rich score and exotic subject matter. Hohenstein, often called the “father of Italian poster art,” created the striking visual campaign. His design for Iris blends Symbolist and Art Nouveau influences: a graceful female figure radiates light and mystery, surrounded by decorative motifs that suggest both the opera’s dramatic themes and its lush Orientalist setting.
Les Maîtres de l’Affiche (1895–1900) was a prestigious subscription series directed by Jules Chéret, showcasing small-format original lithographs of the era’s most important posters. Printed at the Chaix atelier on fine wove paper and issued with the blindstamp, these plates brought the leading poster artists of Europe to collectors in a refined format.
Title: Iris (opera by Pietro Mascagni)
Artist: Adolfo Hohenstein (1854–1928)
Date: 1899 (Les Maîtres de l’Affiche, plate no. 197)
Printer: Imprimerie Chaix, Paris
Size: 11.5 × 15.5 inches (approx. 29 × 39 cm)
Print Type: Stone lithograph
Condition: Excellent “A,” near-mint on fine wove paper with blindstamp
Comments: Authentic plate from Les Maîtres de l’Affiche, produced at Chaix under the direction of Jules Chéret. Brilliant impression and vivid color. A rare example of Italian poster design represented in the series, celebrating Hohenstein’s elegant artwork for Mascagni’s Iris.
Centenaire de la Découverte – Adolfo Hohenstein, Plate 160 – 1898
Adolfo Hohenstein (German/Italian, 1854–1928)
Centenaire de la Découverte, 1898
An original stone lithograph by Adolfo Hohenstein, issued as Plate 160 in Les Maîtres de l’Affiche, the celebrated monthly series published by Jules Chéret at Imprimerie Chaix, Paris, from 1895 to 1900. The series offered subscribers four numbered plates each month, reproducing the finest poster designs of the Belle Époque in reduced format.
This design was created for the Milan publishing and music house G. Ricordi & C., marking the Centenary of the Discovery. Hohenstein, a leading figure of the Italian Art Nouveau movement, was central to Ricordi’s poster output. His elegant composition, fluid line, and distinctive decorative style make this plate a strong example of his work during his most influential period.
Details
Original stone lithograph on wove paper
Printed by Imprimerie Chaix, Paris
From Les Maîtres de l’Affiche, Plate 160 (1898)
Sheet size: approximately 40 × 29 cm / 15.75 × 11.4 in.
Condition: Excellent; clean, crisp impression on full sheet
Comments
A beautifully preserved example by Hohenstein, reflecting his important role in the Ricordi studio and his contribution to Italian poster design at the end of the nineteenth century.
Campari Poster by Adolfo Hohenstein (c. 1900) – Original Art Nouveau Design (known as “Liberty” in Italy)
This original Campari poster, designed by Adolfo Hohenstein around 1900, is an example of Art Nouveau advertising. Measuring 39 x 78 inches, it depicts two gentlemen seated at a table enjoying Campari. The composition reflects the elegance of Italian café culture from the early 20th century, with Hohenstein’s signature use of flowing lines and atmospheric detail.
Adolfo Hohenstein (1854–1928) was a German-Italian painter, illustrator, and graphic artist who played a major role in the development of early Italian poster design. Often referred to as the father of Italian poster art, he was a key figure in the Art Nouveau movement, influencing later artists such as Leonetto Cappiello and Marcello Dudovich. Hohenstein’s work is characterized by elegant figures, dynamic compositions, and rich decorative elements, all of which are present in this Campari design.
The poster has been mounted on linen and is in excellent condition.
• Artist: Adolfo Hohenstein
• Year: Circa 1900
• Size: 39 x 78 inches
• Condition: Excellent, mounted on linen
• Rarity: Original early Campari advertising poster
