Zecchin (1878-1947) is mostly remembered today as an innovative glassmaker, but he also painted and made tapestries.
Born in Venice, to a glassmaking family, he worked some in glass but abandoned it for a time to study art. He became fascinated by the work of the Viennese Secession movement and later by Art Nouveau, and traveled to Vienna and befriended Gustav Klimt.
In 1914 he released a series of paintings, illustrating the story of Aladdin and his entourage as they travel to the Sultan to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. This is now regarded as his best work as a painter. A series of 12 paintings, it was meant to decorate a hotel dining room (!) but now is broken up, half of them in the Ca' Pesaro Palace in Venice, and the rest in private hands.
Zecchin later returned to glassmaking and became artistic director of the Venetian glass firm V.S.M. Cappellin Venini & C., winning acclaim for his works with clean lines and simple shapes, but exquisite color.
An interesting aspect of this image is how it could be taken for a collage, or applique, or a patchwork quilt; his treatment of pattern is very two-dimensional.
From a private collection.
#Art #ArtNouveau #VittorioZecchin #Aladdin #ArabianNights
