Filippo Romoli and the Venuses of Liguria

Filippo Romoli was born in Liguria, the region poet Vincenzo Cardarelli celebrates in the poem of the same name: Liguria faces a sea that “some days / […] is a blooming garden”; it is swept by winds that “carry messages”; and, most importantly, it is like “Venus, born again / in the rushing northwest wind”.

Romoli (Savona, 1901 – Genoa, 1969) was one of the most important Italian poster designers of the 20th century, and is universally recognized as one of the country’s masters of commercial art. He created travel posters for Genoa’s Società Industrie Grafiche Barabino & Graeve, tending first towards Art Deco style and later embracing the expressivity of Futurism and Novecento Italiano.

He worked on advertising campaigns for Società Lazzi-Gran Turismo, and had work commissioned by various regional tourist agencies, shipping lines, and companies.

Here we have selected some of the posters he created to promote some of Liguria’s best holiday resorts, such as Ventimiglia, Varazze, Alassio, Diano Marina, Rapallo, Santa Margherita, Finale Ligure, and Loano.

His 20th-century Venuses reign undisputed.