An original 1955 Italian exhibition poster for "Mostra delle Opere del Beato Angelico nel V Centenario della Morte (1455-1955)" — the landmark exhibition commemorating the 500th anniversary of Fra Angelico's death, jointly held at Vatican City (April–May 1955) and the Convento di San Marco in Florence (May–September 1955). This 1955 exhibition was the only major monographic show of Fra Angelico's work for an entire half-century, until the Metropolitan Museum's 2005 retrospective. Posters from the Vatican/Florence centenary are sought after by Renaissance art collectors, ecclesiastical art enthusiasts, and vintage Italian poster collectors. The image reproduces the celebrated angel from Fra Angelico's "Annunciation" — the kneeling Archangel Gabriel rendered in extraordinary gold-leaf detail, with the Latin inscription "SPS / WM / 7 VIRT" visible in the haloed background. Printing & Provenance • Published by the Azienda Autonoma di Turismo di Firenze (Florence Tourist Board) • Color reproduction by Fotocolor di Bruno Novarese • Printed by Arti Grafiche Alinari Baglioni, Firenze — the historic Florentine art press founded in 1852, considered Italy's preeminent fine-art printer • Italian government authorizations: ENIT n. 353/55 + Questura di Firenze • From a Massachusetts private collection Dimensions Approx. 27.5 in × 39 in (70 × 100 cm) — standard large-format Italian exhibition poster Condition Original, unrestored, never linen-backed. Showing honest 70-year wear consistent with age: edge creasing, light tears at the margins (see photos), some surface wrinkling from storage rolling, and minor handling marks. The printed image area is fully intact and the colors remain vivid — the deep reds, golds, and greens have aged beautifully. No fading, no major losses, no tape repairs. Recommended for professional linen-backing and conservation framing if intended for long-term display. Sold as-is in its honest original state — a true survivor of mid-century Italian print culture. Ships rolled in a sturdy poster tube with acid-free tissue.
