| Fornasetti's work, fusing Surrealism and Neo | | | | himself to the Novecento motifs that were |
| Classicism, is enjoying a major revival, and his | | | | inspired by Neo Classicism; instead he added Early |
| black, white and gold plates depicting portraits of | | | | Renaissance ornament and representational motifs |
| the enigmatic, saucer eyed, alabaster skinned 19th | | | | to the repertoire with which he embellished |
| century beauty Lina Cavalieri, are a captivating | | | | textiles, furniture, porcelain plates, vessels, and |
| example of his work. Perfect as a gift for | | | | similar objects. The work Piero Fornasetti showed |
| connoisseurs of design or dinner party hosts who | | | | at the 1933 Milan Triennale included painted silk |
| enjoy making a splash. | | | | scarves, which attracted the notice of designer |
| Roughly translating as Variations on a Theme, | | | | Gio Ponti. |
| each piece of china is decorated with an image of | | | | In subsequent years, Gio Ponti and Piero |
| a beautiful 19th century woman, Lina Cavalieri that | | | | Fornasetti collaborated on numerous projects. In |
| he had once seen in a magazine. So haunted was | | | | 1950 Gio Ponti and Piero Fornasetti designed the |
| Fornasetti by her image that he created over five | | | | interior of the Casino in San Remo. In 1952 Ponti |
| hundred variations on her face. Some are more | | | | and Fornasetti created the memorable interiors of |
| straightforward depictions, others individual | | | | the great transatlantic liner "Andrea Doria". For the |
| features and some are very much in the | | | | "Architettura" line in furniture designed by Gio |
| Surrealist mould. | | | | Ponti, Piero Fornasetti created architectural motifs |
| Piero Fornasetti was given a scholarship in 1930 to | | | | as decoration. In 1951 Piero Fornasetti and Gio |
| study painting at the Milan Accademia di Belle Arti | | | | Ponti showed this furniture at the Milan Triennale. |
| but was expelled in 1932. After that, Piero | | | | Piero Fornasetti also designed furniture himself, |
| Fornasetti continued to paint in Milan and also | | | | decorating it with trompe-l'oeil paintings of musical |
| dabbled in sculpture, crafts, and interior decoration. | | | | instruments or large suns. The woman's face he |
| Piero Fornasetti was influenced by both Surrealism | | | | used to decorate the "Tema e Variazioni" series |
| and pittura metafisica but developed a highly | | | | became Piero Fornasetti's signature ornament. In |
| distinctive, eclectic style informed by his | | | | 1970 Piero Fornasetti opened a shop in Milan, |
| enthusiasm for the great art of Italy's past. In | | | | where aficionados of his playful, imaginative |
| crafts design, Piero Fornasetti did not confine | | | | designs can still acquire them. |