Prima Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Moderna Decorativa Torino 1902 | Leonardo Bistolfi
This stunning Prima Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Poster was originally created by Leonardo Bistolfi in 1902. The Italian artist is probably best known for his sculpture works including The Angel of Death located at Tomb Brayda at the Monumental Cemetery of Turin and the Monument to Segantini. During his career Bistolfi also produced numerous funerary monuments as well as busts, medals and portraits of prominent figures.
Bistolfi is also known in the art world for this fabulous poster created to advertise and promote the First International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Arts. The exhibition was held at the Valentino Park in Turin between April and November 1902. The event was intended highlight how much Italians had embraced and developed Art Nouveau design. The organisers sought to promote the Liberty style and encourage a new era of artistic innovation and creativity.
The Stile or Liberty Stile as it was better known in Italy was an artistic movement in the decades between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The ornamental art style flourished between the 1890s and the early 1900s. It was characterised by its use of sinuous, curvilinear forms, often inspired by nature, such as flowers, vines, plants, and insects. Art Nouveau artists sought to break away from the strict historic styles of the 19th century and create a new, modern aesthetic. They used a variety of materials, including glass, ceramics, metalwork, and graphic design, to create highly decorative, often asymmetrical works of art that were intended to be both beautiful and functional. The Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900, brought the style to the world’s attention reaching its peak during the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art in Turin in 1902.
The 1902 turin exhibition’s selection criteria was strict, with only original works that demonstrated a decisive tendency toward the aesthetic renewal of form being admitted. The organisers were seeking to showcase truly innovative and artistic pieces that broke with the past and signalled a new era in design. This poster is a perfect example. Bistolfi’s poster design is obviously inspired by classic renaissance art. It is reminiscent of paintings and sculputures of The Three Graces and Hesperides which have always a popular subject in art. Famous painters including Botticelli, Cranach the Elder, Raphael, and Rubens and sculptures such as Étienne d’Antoine and Antonio Canova have worked their hands to create their own versions. In particular, Canova’s painting titled “five dancers holding hands”.
Bistolfi’s poster brings the subject into the art nouveau of the 1900s. It features four dancing nymphs or goddesses in the beautiful Italian countryside, possibly intended as an allegory for the four seasons. The scene takes place on a beautiful Spring day with a stunning blue sky and a lone cloud appearing on the horizon at the top of the grass bank. It is partially obscured by a tree branch with the first pink blossoms of spring. The four women wear classic, virginal white Greek-style dresses. Their long flowing robes move and sway gracefully, billowing around them as they dance barefoot on the lush green grass. They hold hands and dance in a circle with a long white sash which they have artfully arranged into the Latin word for art, ARS.
In true art nouveau style Bistolfi has separated his wonderful image from the exhibition information with a vine-like branch that curves its way across the bottom of poster. The branch is lifted from the tree in the dance scene and features more vibrant pink blossom, emphasising the springtime month of April when the exhibition starts.
Of course, there’s no fonts or typefaces used here, just beautiful hand-drawn letters in a style typical of the art nouveau posters of the period. The text reads Prima Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte. Moderna Decorativa. Torino. Aprile – Novembre 1902. It is signed off with the words Sotto L’Alto Patronato si SM il RE d’Italia which translates as Under the High Patronage of H.M. the King of Italy that adds a touch of prestige to the event.
The 1902 Prima Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Moderna Decorativa
The Prima Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Decorativa Moderna, which translates to the First International Exposition of Modern Decorative Arts, was a significant event held in Turin, Italy in 1902. It was not only an international showcase of decorative arts but also an exhibition of the Liberty style. Liberty, or Stile Liberty in Italian, was the Italian version of Art Nouveau, characterised by elaborate, stylized floral and natural motifs, as well as sinuous lines and curves.
The exhibition was held in the newly inaugurated Valentino Park in Turin, which provided a stunning backdrop for the event. The park was designed in the English landscape style and included a medieval castle, ornamental lakes, and extensive gardens. It aimed to showcase original and innovative works of art, furniture, and other decorative objects that reflected a decisive tendency toward the aesthetic renewal of form.
The exhibition was a huge success, attracting over 3 million visitors and helping to establish Turin as a centre of modern art and design. The Liberty style, which was already popular in Europe, became even more popular in Italy after the exhibition, and it influenced a new generation of Italian designers. In addition to promoting Art Nouveau design, the exhibition also had a broader impact on the arts and crafts movement. It inspired a renewed interest in traditional craftsmanship and techniques, which were seen as an antidote to the soulless mass-produced goods of the industrial era. The Prima Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Decorativa Moderna was a grand event that helped to establish the aesthetic values of the early 20th century and promote a new era of artistic innovation and creativity. It also helped to put Italy on the map as a centre of modern art and design, and its legacy can still be felt today.
How much is an original 1902 Prima Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Moderna Decorativa Torino by Leonardo Bistolfi worth?
Bistolfi’s poster is now widely recognized as a classic exemplar of Art Nouveau design. Its graceful lines, exquisite colours, and evocative imagery, which authentically represent the artistic style of that era, still continue to captivate art enthusiasts worldwide. An original copy of this highly sought-after poster was put up for auction in 2021. The poster’s winning bid of $19,200 exceeded the estimated value of $8,000 to $10,000.
Fortunately, our stunning reproductions offer a chance for everyone to experience the elegance and magic of these collectable posters. They may not hold the same investment potential as an original, but they are a fraction of the cost and look equally breathtaking when framed and hung on display in your home. So, embrace your inner goddess, order your copy today and you’ll be dancing around with your new poster in just a few days.
