$40.5
$57.92
Cycles Gladiator poster – Misti – 1897 – Les Maîtres de l’Affiche, Plate 215 – Vintage Cycling Poster During the 1890s, France was inundated with quality bicycle manufacturers. Companies included Terrot, Rochet, Hurtu, Alcyon, Dilecta, and Automoto. The Gladiator Cycles company was one of the most prestigious. Although perhaps, better known in Britain for its early car-making achievements, it is the incredible 19th-century Cycles Gladiator posters, designed by famous artists of the day, that made a lasting impression in public memory. In 1895, the Gladiator cycles company caused quite a stir when they unveiled one of their earliest models. To celebrate its arrival and capture the spirit of carefree freedom in France during Belle Époque, a bold, daring poster featuring a naked, flame-haired goddess with long flowing locks. She is shown flying through a starry night sky, transporting the bicycle to its destination. The iconic Cycles Gladiator poster is acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest posters. The Cycles Gladiator poster on this listing was created by French artist, Ferdinand Mifliez in 1897. Mifliez is better known by his nom-de-plume, Misti. His image is a light-hearted and mildly risqué advertising approach similar to the type of humour found in French magazines of the era such as La Vie Parisienne. Misti’s saucy illustration depicts an amorous couple whose public display of affection almost had a less-than-romantic ending. Their illicit liaison in the country has attracted the attention of the local Gendarme. Although having been almost caught in the act, the quick-thinking couple flees to their bicycles. With their clothes still unbuttoned they make their escape peddling away from the pursuing officer. Luckily for them, their Gladiator bicycles make their escape easy! The poster was admired by Jules Cheret who included it in his poster journal as Les Maîtres de l’Affiche Plate 215. The Cycles Gladiator company The Cycles Gladiator manufacturing company was formed by Alexandre Darracq and Jean Aucoc in 1891. The Cycles Gladiator manufacturing factory was based on the outskirts of Paris. In 1896, Adolphe Clément, the owner of Clement Cycles, took up the Dunlop manufacturing rights for France. The enormously successful and lucrative deal turned Clément into a millionaire. He joined a syndicate led by Dunlop’s founder Harvey Du Cros to buy out the Gladiator Cycle Company. Cycles Gladiator was merged with Clément and Humber-France, to form Clément, Gladiator & Humber & Co. Limited. The Clement-Gladiator range expanded over the years, offering customers more options as technology advanced. A tricycle, quadricycle and even a motorised bicycle were introduced, along with cars and motorcycles. As these vehicles became increasingly popular, the company was soon at the forefront of the industry thanks to its innovative approach to design and attention to detail. Although Clement and Darracq had initially joined the Clément, Gladiator & Humber conglomerate, Darracq soon departed to pursue car-making on his own. Cars under the names of both Clement and Gladiator were on the market by 1900. Gladiator’s first cars came in the form of a 4hp single cylinder voiturette, with cycle wire wheels and handlebar steering. It was one of the best looking voiturettes available. By 1902, production was over 1,000 cars per annum, At least 800 of which were sold in England. In 1903, the company was divided into Clément-Talbot Ltd with Adolphe Clément being a significant shareholder. Clément renamed the French branch Clément-Gladiator and also formed Clément-Bayard. After 1903 the Clément-Gladiator name continued to be used on shaft-drive cars. The Clément name was dropped in 1907 and in 1909 another French manufacturer, Vinot et Deguingand, took over Gladiator and transferred production to Puteaux. At this time the Pre-Saint-Gervais factory reverted to making bicycles. In 1909 Gladiator was bought by Vinot et Deguingand, who transferred production to their factory at Puteaux. The Pré St Gervais works continued to make bicycles. The production of the 1908 12hp model P or PS, was transferred to the Vinot Deguingand factory and was also available as a Vinot Deguingand. It stayed in production until 1910 but ultimately became the last Gladiator designed car. The Gladiator name was dropped from the cars in 1920. Other Ferdinand ‘Misti’ Mifliez posters Ferdinand Mifliez was a French painter, poster artist and lithographer. He is perhaps better known by the name he first adopted in 1888, Misti. It’s the name he signed on almost all of his artwork. Misti first trained as an industrial designer before joining Jules Chéret’s Chaix printing house as a lithographer in 1890. An accomplished painter. Misti regularly exhibited with the Salon des Artistes Francais. Misti’s art is often compared to that of Jules Cheret for his delicate and graceful lines, and to Leonardo Cappiello, for the boldness, he brought to each piece. His distinct style made him one of the great artists of his day. Between 1894 and 1914, Misti designed over 100 posters for a wide variety of clients including department stores, bicycle companies and journals. Some of his most famous poster designs include La Critique, Le Petit Chat, Cycles Clement, Velodrome de l’Est, Cottereau, Plaques Jougla, Féte de Neuilly, Cresent Cycles, Menthe-Pastille, Le Velo, Triumph Cycles and Rouxel & Dubois. His elegant and efficient style often features beautiful stylish women. Jules Chéret considered not just one but two of Misti’s posters to be prestigious enough to be reprinted and sold in his Les Maîtres de l’Affiche poster journal. namely the 1985 Cycles Gladiator on this listing, which appeared as Plate 86, and his 1896 La Critique print which appeared as Plate 86. In 2019 an original copy of this Cycles Gladiator poster, by Misti, was listed for sale with a price tag of $3900.
Cycling Posters
