Mariano Fortuny
Designer and artist
Spanish-born artist in Venice who made pleated silk gowns, printed fabrics and lamps.
Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo was born in Granada and settled in Venice, where he worked as a painter, photographer, stage designer and inventor.
His pleated silk Delphos gown, patented in 1909, was inspired by ancient Greek statues and worn without a corset. Fortuny’s printed velvets and cottons are still made in Venice.