Amazing Vintage Posters Designed by David Dellepiane

David Dellepiane (1866–1932) was a French painter, lithographer and poster artist of Italian origin. In 1880, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts de Marseille, where he studied with Marius Guindon until 1885, followed by a brief stay in Genoa. After 1890, he lived in Paris, where he was influenced by the poster art of Alfons Mucha. Later, he worked under the direction of Jules Chéret, another well known poster artist, who taught him lithography. For a time, he also studied Japanese art.

Upon returning to Marseille, Dellepiane set up his first workshop along the canal, on a street that was home to many other artists, including Alfred Casile, Valère Bernard, René Seyssaud, Joseph Garibaldi and Eugène Giraud.

His first success came with a poster created in 1899 for the 25th centenary of the founding of Marseille, representing the legend of Protis and Gyptis. In 1903, the newly formed Provençal Tourist Office (Syndicat d’Initiative de Provence) held a competition to design a poster, which Dellepiane won. He worked regularly for the Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée. He also designed posters for the Exposition coloniale de Marseille (1906) and the Exposition coloniale de Marseille (1922). In 1925, he decorated the Grand Hôtel in Juan-les-Pins.

A street in the 7th arrondissement of Marseille was named after him in 1937. Take a look at these amazing photos to see some of vintage posters designed by David Dellepiane.

Exposition Internationale d'Électricité, Marseille, 1908

Société Anonyme des Arts Graphiques, Genève, circa 1898

Genève Mode, August 15, 1899

Ville de Marseille, Fêtes du 25e Centenaire, 1899

Ville de Marseille Palace, circa 1900

Vin Sautel au grenache vieux, circa 1900

Syndicat d'Initiative de Provence, 1903

XXIXme Fête Fédérale de Gymnastique, Marseille, 1903

Ajaccio, circa 1910

Antibes, circa 1910

Bergers, circa 1910

Chemin de Fer Chamonix-Montvers, Mer de Glace, circa 1910

Cie. des Messageries Maritimes, Paquebots-Poste Français, circa 1910

Corse, Ajaccio, circa 1910

Côte d'Azur, 1910

Salon de l'automobile, Marseille, 1913

Soldats! Je ne fume que Le Nil, circa 1920

Exposition Nationale Coloniale, Marseille, 1922

La Renaissance de l'Art Français et des Industries de Luxe, Les Richesses Artistiques de la France Coloniale, April 1922

L'Algérie, Le Comité d'hivernage, circa 1920