''The Silver Chalice'', 1954 - art by Luigi Martinati is a mixed media by Movie World Posters which was uploaded on February 6th, 2022.
''The Silver Chalice'', 1954 - art by Luigi Martinati
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''The Silver Chalice'', a 1954 historical drama film directed by Victor Saville and starring Paul Newman in one of... more
Title
''The Silver Chalice'', 1954 - art by Luigi Martinati
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''The Silver Chalice'', a 1954 historical drama film directed by Victor Saville and starring Paul Newman in one of his early roles. The film is notable for being one of Newman's earliest appearances in a feature film and is often considered one of his less successful projects.
The story is set in ancient Rome and revolves around the life of a young Greek artisan named Basil, played by Paul Newman. Basil is commissioned to create a silver chalice to hold the Holy Grail, the cup used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper. The chalice is intended to be a symbol of religious significance, and its creation becomes a central plot point in the film.
As Basil works on the chalice, he faces various challenges and obstacles, including romantic entanglements, religious intrigue, and political conflicts. The film explores themes of faith, artistry, and the struggles of a talented craftsman in a turbulent historical period.
While "The Silver Chalice" was an ambitious project with high expectations, it received generally negative reviews from both critics and audiences. Many criticized the film's script, direction, and acting, including Paul Newman's performance. Newman himself later expressed his dissatisfaction with his own acting in the film.
"The Silver Chalice" is often considered a low point in Paul Newman's career, but it did not significantly hinder his rise to stardom in later years. Despite its shortcomings, the film remains a part of cinematic history and a notable early work in the career of one of Hollywood's most iconic actors.
About the poster artist:
Luigi Martinati (1893-1983), born in Florence, Italy, on Dec. 31, 1893, was a significant Italian illustrator and painter. He spent most of his career creating artwork for film posters.
While growing up in Florence, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts, then moved to Rome in 1911 when he was 18. There, he worked as an apprentice for film poster artist Federico Ballester (1868-1926), the father of Anselmo Ballester, who also became a poster artist.
Between 1923 and 1941, he devoted himself to advertising illustration. He designed posters of various subjects and themes, from commercial advertising billboards to tourist signs to political posters to significant celebratory events.
He later became the director of IGAP (Impresa Generale Affissioni PubblicitĂ ), a leading advertising agency in Rome. In that role, he began collaborating with various film companies, primarily Warner Brothers studios. Soon after World War II, the advertising sector became dedicated exclusively to movie illustrations.
In the mid-1940s, he teamed up with two other painters of Italian film posters, Anselmo Ballester and Alfredo Capitani. Together, they founded BCM studio (using letters from their surnames) and dedicated their efforts exclusively to producing film posters.
Martinati's images typically invoked robust realism. His style was characterized by a foreground depicting a large portrait with a minor scene in the background. He also stands out for his technique, which focused on the strength of the subjects without lingering on details and particulars. The heroes of Martinati posters are realistic and believable, with few exaggerated expressions or poses..
In 1959, he cut back on his partnership with Warner Brothers and other film production and distribution companies. By 1967, he discontinued his successful career as a film poster artist to work primarily as an easel painter.
He died in Rome in 1983 at the age of 90.
To see some of his other posters, enter his last name in the search.
Uploaded
February 6th, 2022
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