Lot 20TP
Umberto Bellotto (Italian, 1882-1940) [Attributed] A Medievalist-Style Wrought Iron Sign for the Gran Caffè Ristorante San Marco in Piazza del Popolo, Ascoli Piceno, circa 1928
13 November 2019, 13:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge£5,000 - £7,000
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Umberto Bellotto (Italian, 1882-1940) [Attributed]
A Medievalist-Style Wrought Iron Sign for the Gran Caffè Ristorante San Marco in Piazza del Popolo, Ascoli Piceno, circa 1928
the black patinated decorative panel pierced and hammered, the design depicting the Lion of Saint Mark, representing the evangelist St Mark, pictured in the form of a winged lion holding a Bible, the symbol of the city of Venice and formerly of the Venetian Republic, in the background to the left San Marco and the Basilica, and to the right a Galleon approaching Scaliger Castle on Lake Garda, the panel riveted into an angle iron frame
115.8cm x 53cm, unsigned
the black patinated decorative panel pierced and hammered, the design depicting the Lion of Saint Mark, representing the evangelist St Mark, pictured in the form of a winged lion holding a Bible, the symbol of the city of Venice and formerly of the Venetian Republic, in the background to the left San Marco and the Basilica, and to the right a Galleon approaching Scaliger Castle on Lake Garda, the panel riveted into an angle iron frame
115.8cm x 53cm, unsigned
Footnotes
Umberto Bellotto, born in Venice in 1882, is particularly known for his wrought iron works, often with a neo-eighteenth-century and medievalist flavor. Active also in other sectors of the applied arts, he designed glassworks ateliers that included Vittorio Zecchin, Vetreria Artistica Barovier, Toso Fratelli, and Pauly & C.. Many of his applied and decorative arts works have been exhibited at the Biennials of Monza and Venice.
On January 5th, 1928, Bishop Santarelli blessed the opening of the "Gran Caffè Ristoratore S. Marco" on the ground floor of the Palazzo del Popolo. A real work of art that the press described as: "an environment of first places not only in the region, but also outside, where everything offers to enjoy and think". It is due to the genius of Umberto Bellotto, artistic director of the Spada ceramics factory, who meticulously cared for every object, every little detail, from wrought iron to ceramic tiles with over 400 different designs, from furniture to the floor, from curtains at the sales counters. He used local craftsmen, except for wrought iron, forged in his Venetian workshops. The wooden works are by the companies De Marco, Latini and Carpani; the paintings of Pagliari, the ceramics by Aldo Castelli; the architectural study of Eng. Paoletti.
The sign was acquired directly by the current owner from the heirs of Gran Caffè
Ristorante San Marco.