Piero Fornasetti (19131988)

A painter, sculptor, interior designer and engraver, Piero Fornasetti had both imagination and character. Expelled from the Brera Art Academy in 1932, he was true to his vision and let nothing stand in the way of his productivity. Over the course of his career, he created more than 11,000 items, many featuring the face of the operatic soprano Lina Cavalieri, first glimpsed in a 19th-century magazine. In response to the question why he created so many pieces using this face, he reportedly answered that he had no idea – he’d just started and never stopped. Another recurrent feature of his work is the use of black and white, and his favoured themes and symbols include Greek and Roman architecture, the sun and time. Today Fornasetti's creations are often taken up in fashion and room accessories such as scarves, ties, lamps, furniture, plates and tables. His son, Barnaba Fornasetti, continues to design in his father's name.