Misti (Ferdinand Mifliez, France, 1865-1923)

Conservation linen
Mounted, framed, and glazed under UV-resistant Perspex
42 in. x 117 in. (107 cm x 298 cm)

This piece, a very rare oversized poster that advertises one of the world’s first electric cars, depicts happy motorists enjoying the Cleveland’s silent power. The glow of the moon is echoed in the yellow shine of the headlamps and the falling stars overhead.

Misti worked in the Chaix (Cheret’s) printing plant before opening his own studio, where he created many more posters, largely for bicycle and automobile firms, from 1894 to 1914. He was an accomplished painter who exhibited regularly in Paris salons, though he was most proud of his poster designs. In his art, Misti is often compared to both Cheret, for the lightness and grace of his touch, and to Cappiello, for his use of bold strokes and outlines. Among the great artists of his day, Misti was perhaps most famous for his direct and explicit style.

This is a charming and unusually lighthearted example of that work, and it is presented in utterly mint condition. Rare in the extreme, this 19^th century poster is one of only two examples recorded, and it is in excellent, original condition, with strong, bright colors.