International Poster Gallery

Collecting Leonetto Cappiello posters

Although born in Livorno, Italy, Leonetto Cappiello spent most of his adult life in Paris where he became one of the most successful and prolific posterists of all time (he created more than 1000). He is considered by many to be the father of modern advertising. His style focused on one irresistible image that could be absorbed in a second and remembered for a lifetime. He wrote: "Surprise is the foundation of advertising; it is its necessary condition."

It is hard to find a more suitable example of these words than Cappiello's Veuve Amiot. How could one create a better image for the "king of sparkling wines" than Louis XIV sampling the wine?

This is inspired poster making, and helps to explain why Leonetto Cappiello is considered to be the greatest product poster artist of all time. We are very fortunate that an unused cache of this poster was found in a warehouse in Paris many years ago.

"Sunshine in a glass" -- wonderful product positioning for a cognac which comes to life in Cappiello's able hands. Set on a deep black background, the poster radiates warmth from the sun-kissed glass outward.

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