59 - Annarita Librari (second half of the 20th century), for Cartiere Miliani, Fabriano

Annarita Librari (second half of the 20th century), for Cartiere Miliani, Fabriano Les demoiselles d'Avignon, after Pablo Picasso, 2004 Backlit chiaroscuro watermark 25.8 x 22.8 cm (image size) Signature: “A. Librari” in the plate Date: “2004” in the plate Other inscriptions: coat of arms and title in the plate Provenance: Cassa di Risparmio di Fabriano e Cupramontana; Veneto Banca SpA in LCA Condition. Mount: 85% (one lamp missing; electrical system not tested) Condition. Surface: 95% For direct WhatsApp assistance before and during the live auction: +39 346 12 999 80 // Direct assistance via WhatsApp before and during the auction: +39 346 12 999 80 Up for auction is an example of artistic chiaroscuro filigree—the date refers to the preparation of the matrix—created by Annarita Librari for the historic Cartiera Miliani paper mill in Fabriano, based on Picasso’s famous “Demoiselles d’Avignon.” As the artist herself—daughter of watermark artist Franco Librari—recalls, “With Giuseppe Miliani (1816–1890), grandson of Pietro (1744–1817), founder of the Miliani company, the paper mill expanded; drawing paper established itself as the finest—so much so that it won an award at the 1851 London Exhibition—and security paper began to be the Fabriano factory’s specialty. By the time of Giuseppe’s death, the paper mill was already a large complex, but it would be his son Giambattista (1856–1937) who would carry out the actual transformation from an artisanal to an industrial enterprise (...). Giambattista combined technical expertise with a broad vision of industrial organization, thanks to the frequent trips he took—beginning at a very young age—to various European countries and North America. In 1889, he received the Legion of Honor for presenting the finest watermarks for banknotes at the Paris Exposition. Even before this recognition in Paris, there was genuine enthusiasm for Fabriano’s watermarks. In 1886, Ernst Kirchner of Frankfurt am Main wrote: “Your watermarked papers are the most beautiful I have ever seen. Ever since I’ve owned these truly artistic sheets, I no longer even dare to look at similar products from Germany. The portraits, as well as the details that adorn them, are of admirable, perfect finesse and now form the centerpiece of this modest collection that I cherish with great pride.” (Annarita Librari, “Once Upon a Time… Artistic Watermark in Chiaroscuro”). The history of the Miliani paper mill was reconstructed by Bruno Bravetti in the monograph “Giambattista Miliani,” Affinità Elettive, 2010.