Franco Matticchio - Blind Cat Blues

Franco Matticchio

Franco Matticchio

Franco Matticchio

Franco Matticchio

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Franco Matticchio

I've Got Mail

Imagine my sheer delight when this package arrived in the mail!

A lovely editorial concept and a great selection of over 

30 of my favorite Matticchio animal drawings... 

what more could I wish for Christmas?

Libretto Postale is the result of a collaboration between Franco, Stefania Camilli of Vanvere Edizioni

and the illustrator and art director Guido Scarabottolo. Some will remember my post about 

Vanvere's first publication, a beautiful and unique book of animal drawings by Scarabottolo. 

In this case, Guido has contributed by working on the graphic project, and most importantly, 

by kindly encouraging the often reluctant Franco to participate in the endeavor.

The result is a wonderful mix between an illustrated book and a postcard collection.

Each page is divided in half by a perforation, so that a large version of the illustration 

can be detached and used as a postcard, while a slightly smaller version remains 

in the book, with space for optional comments and notes by the owner.

The back of each page features an extra illustration.

As if the 16 postcards, which by themselves are well worth the price, were not enough,

the volume contains an extra bonus, this series of 16 poetic fake stamps.

I can't wait to see what the fearless Stefania will conceive and produce next, 

and am proud to have helped in a very small way to make one of her dreams 

come true! And of course, I am immensely grateful to Franco for his genius, 

and so happy that more people are getting to share it...

PS: thanks to Li-AN for asking the obvious question: 

where and how can one buy this book outside Italy?

Just follow this link, and order it directly from Vanvere.

Franco Matticchio

Franco Matticchio

Cita va in città

Like Cats & Dogs

And I could go on and on and on...

It's been a very entertaining couple of months around our home,

as Seba and I follow with endlessly fascination the fast evolving relationship

between Chapi and the new puppy. I am so happy that they like each other!

Marjorie Flack, Angus and the Cat, 1932

Kathleen Hale, 1949

 Barbara Cooney, Lucy and Loki, 1958

Janusz Grabianski

Leonard Weisgard, Who Ever Heard of Kangaroo Eggs, 1957, 

thanks to my vintage book collection (in blog form)

Ezra Jack Keats, 1971

Józef Wilkon

Véronique Mazière

 Harriet Russell

Robert Quackenbush, Horatio, 1868, thanks to art.crazed

Benjamin Rabier, Rabougri, 1929, thanks to Agence eureka

John Burningham, Cannonball Simp, 1966

Clement Hurd, The Merry Chase, 1941

Cecile Boyer, Ouf, miao, cui-cui

Jutta Bauer

W.T. Cummings, Wickford of Beacon Hill, 1962, thanks to Arthur van Kruining

Franco Matticchio

Old Dogs

I am sorry to have missed Vecchi Cani, the recent exhibition of drawings

by Giovanna Durì at the Nuages Gallery in Milan (the same space that regularly 

features the shows of Matticchio). Durì is a well known graphic designer 

and exhibition designer, and this show was her coming out as an artist. 

The dogs portrayed were met in friends' homes, streets, parks, and kennels.  

After all we've been through last Summer, I was deeply moved 

by the sadness and tenderness in the eyes of these sweet old dogs, 

and by Durì's loving gaze towards them. 

 Vecchi Cani is also a book published by Nuages.