A manifesto (poster) created by Plinio Codognato in 1927, representing a moment in the career of one of Italy’s most prolific advertising designers of the early twentieth century.
Codognato (1878–1940) was a pioneering Italian cartellonista—a designer specializing in commercial posters and advertisements. His career spanned roughly four decades, during which he produced approximately one thousand posters for major Italian and international brands including FIAT, Pirelli, Campari, Cinzano, and Liebig. His 1913 poster for the inaugural performance of Verdi’s Aida at the Arena di Verona remains among his most celebrated works. From the end of the First World War onward, Codognato was based in Milan, where he served as official advertising designer for FIAT for some twenty years.
About Plinio Codognato
Born in Verona in 1878, Codognato trained under Mosè Bianchi and began his professional career with book illustration, including twenty-nine plates for Luigi Motta’s fantastical novel L’aquila dell’Indostan (1907). His transition to poster design established him as a central figure in Italian commercial art. Beyond advertising, he produced illustrations for major periodicals including Lettura and L’Illustrazione Italiana, and was also regarded as a painter. Several of his posters are preserved in the Raccolta Salce, held at the Civic Museums of Treviso.
Details
- Creator: Plinio Codognato
- Year: 1927
- Genre: Commercial poster design
- Career context: Italian advertising and illustration, early twentieth century
Frequently asked questions
Who was Plinio Codognato?
Plinio Codognato (1878–1940) was an Italian advertising designer and illustrator based in Verona and later Milan. He created approximately one thousand posters for major Italian brands, and also worked as a book illustrator and painter.
What was Codognato’s most famous work?
His 1913 poster advertising the first performance of Verdi’s Aida at the Arena di Verona is considered his most celebrated design. He also served as official advertising designer for FIAT for approximately twenty years.
Where can Codognato’s work be seen today?
Several of his posters are held in the Raccolta Salce collection at the Civic Museums of Treviso.
