St. Raphael Quinquina, created around 1890 by Pal—the pseudonym of Romanian designer Jean de Paleologue—builds its advertisement around an emphatic pairing: a dark glass bottle at lower left and a white-robed, winged woman sweeping into the upper right. Against a field of intense blue, the figure’s pale drapery and feathered wings catch the light, while red lettering gives the brand name an equally forceful presence. Product, figure and typography are made to compete for attention without losing their visual unity.

The poster belongs to the flourishing commercial culture of the Belle Époque, when illustrated advertising became an increasingly conspicuous feature of urban life. Designers had to communicate at a glance amid busy streets and crowded display sites, encouraging the use of large silhouettes, saturated colour and memorable personifications. Pal was known for eye-catching commercial lithographs, and here he turns the beverage’s name into a complete graphic identity: the celestial figure echoes “Raphael”, while the bottle remains large enough to be recognised immediately. Quinquina—a quinine-flavoured aperitif—thus acquires an aura of radiance and refinement through association rather than lengthy explanation.

A closer look

The composition rises along a strong diagonal. The bottle forms a weighty base in the lower-left corner, its brown glass modelled with sharp highlights and its label picked out through intricate linework. From this compact, upright form, the eye moves towards the figure, whose body extends across the centre before her wings open into the upper-right corner. The asymmetry gives the design momentum: rather than standing ceremonially beside the product, she seems to emerge into the scene with it.

Behind her, fine rays spread in a luminous sunburst, cutting through the blue background and reinforcing the figure’s supernatural character. Her dress is constructed from soft cream and white passages, with restrained shading that suggests folds in motion. The wings are more finely articulated, their layered feathering offering a delicate counterpoint to the poster’s broad areas of colour. Her calm expression provides another contrast to the surrounding graphic energy.

Across the lower section, bold red lettering establishes the brand name in a decorative script-like form. Its warm colour stands sharply against the cooler blue, while dark outlines preserve legibility. This typography does more than supply information: its curves participate in the movement of the composition, linking the squat geometry of the bottle with the flowing contours of drapery and wings. Small details—the bottle cap, ornamental label and slender rays—reward closer viewing, but the poster’s essential message remains readable from a distance.

Context and significance

Pal’s design reflects a period in which the poster was becoming a sophisticated meeting point between commerce and art. Manufacturers increasingly relied upon distinctive figures, lettering and palettes to make their products recognisable, and artists responded by compressing narrative, atmosphere and brand identity into a single vertical format. The celestial imagery here is especially effective because it is not merely decorative: it converts the name St. Raphael into a visual motif that can be understood before every word has been read.

The result retains the directness of an advertisement while offering the compositional invention associated with turn-of-the-century poster design. Its appeal lies in that balance between immediacy and detail—the bottle assertive in the foreground, the figure airborne above it, and the whole scene held together by a vivid orchestration of blue, red, cream and brown.

Choosing the right size and finish

Artwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.

If you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, ask our workshop for advice.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. See examples of personalised artwork.

Choose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. See examples of our Aged artwork.

Every piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.

Framed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.

Selected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and specialist framing are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, contact our workshop.

This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.