La editorial Ricordi y su aportación a la publicidad italiana de principios de siglo XX

Abstract

Deals with the study of the Italian poster from a double viewpoint: the artistic and the communicative one, in the period from the end of the 19th century until the First World War. The Casa Ricordi is the most advanced one from the technical and business point of view, considering that it has the best musicians and illustrators in this time. The investigation means a contribution to the birth of the first Italian graphics companies, the seed for future publishing agencies. We have found contracts, assignments, payment orders and even the discovery of a sketch from the great illustrator - Cappiello - in the basements of the Campari company. It had some author's handmade notes, showing the agreement to send to be printed. The sketch had no brand or commercial product, this would be added later, once the agreement was sealed. The Casa Ricordi was born as a copy shop, and in less than a century it became the most powerful graphics company in Italy and Europe. It contributed decisively to Liberty's successful, a style as cosmopolitan as the illustrators who worked in Ricordi.