Leonetto Cappiello: Cognac Pellisson (1907) Vintage Art Print

Toast to the birth of modern advertising with this spectacular 1906 French beverage poster by the "father of modern advertising," Leonetto Cappiello. Commissioned to promote the elite spirits of Maison Fondée en 1820, this vibrant lithographic masterpiece perfectly demonstrates Cappiello's revolutionary approach to poster art—relying on a single, unforgettable visual hook popping out from a deep, minimal background.

The composition features a dramatic, rear-facing figure of royalty dynamically lifting a bottle of premium cognac toward the sky. Draped in a massive, flowing crimson-red velvet cape trimmed with luxurious, spotted white ermine fur, the figure wears an ornate, wheeled golden crown that anchors Cappiello’s sense of humor and theatrical style. Set against an intense, ink-black background, the brilliant reds, golds, and whites explode forward, framed by bold, stylized typography celebrating the company's historic social headquarters: "Segonzac près Cognac (France)".

The Artist: Leonetto Cappiello (1875–1942)

Leonetto Cappiello was an Italian-born poster artist who completely redefined graphic design in Paris during the Belle Époque and Art Deco eras. Before Cappiello, poster designers like Jules Chéret and Toulouse-Lautrec filled advertisements with highly detailed, busy Parisian scenes. Cappiello realized that the fast-paced 20th-century viewer, traveling via automobile or subway, needed an immediate visual punch. By pairing single, whimsical, or fantastical characters with solid, dark backdrops and bold text, he created the modern advertising template and became the most sought-after commercial artist in Europe.

Styling Your Space

This high-contrast, iconic piece of European commercial history brings a sophisticated, lounge-like energy to home decors:

• The Home Bar, Dining Room, or Kitchen: The perfect historic beverage anchor, adding an authentic, vintage European bistro or speakeasy atmosphere to dining areas.

• Industrial & Minimalist Settings: The solid black background and sharp primary reds pop beautifully when styled against concrete, exposed brick, or crisp gallery-white walls.

• A Vintage Advertisement Collection: Pairs magnificently with retro champagne posters, vintage travel graphics, or early 20th-century French lithographs.

Premium Craftsmanship & Features

• Museum-Grade Giclée: We use state-of-the-art archival pigment inks to flawlessly preserve the deep, solid black field, the rich saturation of the red cape, and the fine text calligraphy.

• Archival Fine Art Paper: Printed on premium 200gsm heavy-weight, acid-free matte paper, providing a glare-free, smooth surface that elevates the richness of the deep color blocks.

• Full Archival Precision: Carefully calibrated to retain all original lithograph layout attributes, including the historic printer marks of Imp. P. Vercasson & Cie along the lower edge margins.

Read more about Leonetto Cappiello

Related collections

• Vintage French posters 

• Leonetto Cappiello posters