Born in Milan in 1913, the multi-talented painter, interior decorator and engraver of books was truly prolific, creating over 13,000 products in his lifetime. Acclaimed as one of the most original designers of the 20th century, his instantly recognisable work has been celebrated in exhibitions and galleries across the world.
Inspired by the Greek and Roman architecture of his home nation, many of Fonasetti’s signature pieces feature bold architectural forms, lines and structures. He was a pioneering artist, elevating ornamentation to the loftier, structural element of design and his work is still proudly celebrated in Europe and around the globe.
Fornasetti’s work was all in the detail and inevitably his own home became a hotbed for his concepts and visual motifs. A riot of colour and unique designs, antique furniture and inspirations fill each room to create an intoxicating mix that is a testament to his unbridled creativity.
Much of Fornasetti’s work is inspired by the face of opera soprano Lina Cavalieri, the “Tema e Variazioni” (theme and variation), and at the time regarded as the world’s most beautiful woman. Upon finding an image of her in a 19th century magazine, he went on to create more than 500 variations of her face, in over 350 products from candles and decorative objects to crockery and art prints. It was the formal, graphic appeal rather than Cavalieri’s celebrity that inspired his ceaseless creativity. He modestly admitted, “I began to make them and I never stopped.”
Fornasetti’s son, Barnaba, is continuing in his father’s footsteps and reinvigorating his legacy for a new generation. He has focused on reviving archive prints that were lost for decades and collaborating with specialist companies that are entrusted with continuing to produce the strong visual motifs of the house.
