Vittorio Zecchin Biography
Vittorio Zecchin (Murano, 21 May 1878 – Murano, 15 April 1947) was an Italian artist. Son of a Murano glass technician, Luigi graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Intolerant of the late nineteenth-century realist culture that he encountered here, he felt rather attracted by the stimuli offered by the Venetian Biennials which he attended, coming into contact with symbolist research and the environment of the Viennese Secession. In 1914 he presented at the XI Biennale, together with the painter Teodoro Wolf Ferrari, some glass made at the Barovier glassworks. After 1918 he favored the applied arts. From 1921 to 1925 he was the artistic director of the Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C. company for which he created classical pieces in light glass and delicate colours; inspired by the 16th century painting style of Venetian painters, these vases were the first examples of modern Murano glass work. Having concluded his experience with Cappellin Venini, during the 1930s he continued to dedicate himself to the creation of extremely refined glass, collaborating with various glassworks: Ferro-Toso (1930), A.Ve.M. Arte Vetraria Muranese (1932-1933), Salir (1932-1938), Barovier Seguso Ferro (1933-1934) and Fratelli Toso (1938). During the 1930s and in the last decade of his life, he also dedicated himself to teaching, collaborating with various Venetian professional institutes including the “School for the Glass Industry” of Murano (in 1934) and the “Abate” school for apprentice glassmakers. Zanetti” (from 1936), making use of two booklets written by himself in his teaching activity, one on the history of glass, the other on mosaic; and also the Vendramin Corner professional school where he deals with tapestries and embroidery.
