Gian Luciano Sormani (Legnago 1867 – 1938)
Assicurazioni Generali-Venezia advertising poster, referred to as “Mercurio”
1910
offset print
cm 100×70

This is the first illustrated poster produced for Generali. It features the figure of Mercury in the classical style, set against the background of the Venice lagoon, symbols of centuries of enterprise and robust economic foundations.

Sormani graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, as a student of Pompeo Molmenti. Despite being active mostly in Venice, he taught at the Istituto d’Arte di Napoli and was the director of the Accademia di Urbino.

Sormani’s works should be viewed within the context of a style that infuses social realism with emotion and pathos.

In 1908, his works went on display at Ca’ Pesaro, where they stayed, on and off, until 1938.