Fratini was more than a masterful artist.
He was a force who left Italy and found himself at the centre of Swinging London, immersing himself in its nightlife, culture, and art scene. He lived fast, painted even faster, and seized life by the horns. He was known as “an illustration god,” and in an industry brimming with talent, Fratini truly stood apart.
Renato Fratini (1932–1973) was one of the great mid-century illustrators, renowned for his speed, elegance, and cinematic impact. Trained in Rome, he became a leading talent at Studio Favalli, producing dynamic artwork for Italian film posters before moving to London in the late 1950s.
In Britain, he flourished, shaping the look of everything from romance paperbacks and magazine covers to international film campaigns. His most famous work—the poster for James Bond's From Russia with Love (1963)—remains an icon of cinema history.
Fratini was considered an illustration god by his peers. His brushwork was on par with the greats of the era including Bob Peak and Bernie Fuchs, and so distinctive it was often imitated. Yet after his untimely death in Mexico at just forty, his name slipped into obscurity.
This book seeks to restore his rightful place as one of the greatest illustrators of his generation, worthy of standing alongside the masters who defined mid-century commercial art.
