Amazing 1916 Liberty Style (Italy's Art Nouveau) color lithograph poster entitled Sempre Avanti!! (Always Forward) depicting Italy, personified as a woman in a flowing white robe, carrying Italy's flag, it's red section draped across her, leading representatives of the Italian armed forces, including Bersagliere, Alpini and Arditi soldiers. A bold and dramatic composition showing a blue strip of ocean and the ominous presence of battleships below the low horizon. It is signed with a monogram on the lower left, the signature of Leopoldo Metlicovitz (born Trieste 1868 - died Ponte Lambro (Como) 1944) an Italian painter, graphic artist, illustrator and theatrical designer of Dalmatian origin. As a young man, in 1892, Metlicovitz joined G. Ricordi & Co, at one time Europe's largest music and advertising poster publishing house. There Metlicovitz worked under the celebrated Russian born graphic artist Adolf Hohenstein, known as the father of Italian poster art, and eventually replaced him as Ricordi's art director. By the end of the 19th Century Metlicovitz designed sets and costumes for the Scala of Milan Theatre, as well as opera librettos, scores, calendars, and magazines. After 1915 he devoted himself almost exclusively to painting landscapes and portraits, and illustrating advertising posters. A dramatic piece that will make a room. In good used condition with vibrant colors, toning, tear, small losses and imperfections as shown. The borders are trimmed and it is mounted on a period mat. Shipped professionally packed, fully insured with tracking number.

Measurements: Frame: 35" by 28 3/4"; Visible Image (mat opening): 26 1/4" by 19 3/8" approximately.