An advertising poster designed by Luigi Martinati in 1933. Martinati was an Italian illustrator, commercial artist and painter who conducted a prolific career in poster design and cinema illustration across several decades.
Born in Florence on 31 December 1893, Martinati trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti and relocated to Rome in 1911, where he apprenticed under poster painter Federico Ballester. From 1923 onward, he designed posters across a wide range of subjects: commercial advertisements, tourist signage, political propaganda placards and celebratory manifestations. By the 1930s, Martinati had established his studio at Via Emanuele Filiberto 190 in Rome, which he shared with colleague Tito Corbella. His work was produced primarily by the A.P.E. printing house in nearby Viale Castrense. He became director of IGAP (Impresa Generale Affissioni Pubblicità), one of Rome’s leading advertising agencies, and collaborated with major film studios including Warner Brothers.
About Luigi Martinati
Martinati’s career spanned from the 1910s into the 1980s, making him a significant figure in Italian commercial design. His work reflected the diverse visual demands of twentieth-century advertising, from product promotion to institutional campaigns. He died in Rome on 31 December 1983.
Details
- Creator: Luigi Martinati (Florence, 1893 – Rome, 1983)
- Date: 1933
- Object type: Advertising poster
- Location: Rome
Frequently asked questions
Who was Luigi Martinati?
Luigi Martinati was an Italian illustrator, commercial artist and painter born in Florence in 1893. He moved to Rome in 1911 and became one of the city’s most prolific poster designers, creating advertisements, political placards and promotional work for film studios and major advertising agencies until his death in 1983.
Where was this poster created?
The poster was designed in Rome, where Martinati maintained his studio from the 1930s onward at Via Emanuele Filiberto 190. It was produced by the A.P.E. printing house in Viale Castrense.
What kind of work did Martinati design?
Between 1923 and 1941, Martinati designed posters across many categories: commercial advertisements, tourist signage, political propaganda placards and celebratory manifestations. He also worked extensively on cinema illustration and collaborated with major film production companies.
