As with the Veronese vase, Zecchin drew inspiration from a number of old master paintings of the Renaissance which featured elemental glass vessels. In this case, the Brocca Tiziano was inspired by Titian’s painting The Baccanle of the Andrians (1518-1519) in which a young man with strong arms holds aloft a transparent vessel half full of wine and gazes through it towards the heavens as if it were a celestial lens. The thin, transparent glass favored by Zecchin and Venini is aptly called Soffiato, which translates simply as breath.
Vittorio Zecchin 1878–1947
Born the son of a Murano glassblower, Vittorio Zecchin would go on to become one of the most influential Venetian artists and designers of the 20th century. Initially working as a painter in the Italian Liberty (Art Nouveau) style, Zecchin’s sensitivity to international art, combined with his love for traditional Venetian craftsmanship and design, would have a lasting influence on 20th century art-glass in Venice and beyond.
After graduating from the Venetian Academy of Fine Arts in 1901, Zecchin initially decided against a career as an artist, believing that the conservative Venetian establishment would not understand or accept his work. Instead he became civil servant in Murano and did not publicly exhibit his paintings until 1908, when a number of young Venetian artists had formed the Ca’ Pessaro group. Zecchin joined the group and by 1914 he had become one of its most influential members.
Auction Results Vittorio Zecchin
