Foto Marvellini's vintage-looking portraits of the (supposed) ancestors of Spider-Man, Darth Vader and other pop culture figures are quite impressive. Just don't try to figure out who is behind the Italian art studio, or how its creations are made.
"The historical company Foto Marvellini was founded when photography was born," the studio wrote in an e-mail to Wired after we inquired about the portraits of pop icons. "As their old motto used to say, the Marvellini brothers performed, 'Portraits for everyone. Even for those who don’t want to be portrayed.' Through the generations [it became] a great gallery of phantomatic characters. Hidden until today, this precious collection is now spread all over the world, as the last heirs desired."
Those heirs, per the e-mail, are Andrea and Carlo Marvellini (above) who were, the tale goes, "separated at birth."
"One has served aboard a pirate ship, travelling through crafts, fashion and style," the e-mail said. "The other, boarded on a ghost ship, has moved among photography, history, graphics, archival."
The portraits were made through "an ancient and laborious process," according to the Marvellinis, that was not handed down to them. Regardless of where the images came from, the work of Foto Marvellini is incredibly awesome.
Check out a gallery of some of their best portraits – photographed at their home studio in Milan ("a secret laboratory like real superheroes") – in the gallery above. Then head to the Foto Marvellini Facebook page to see more.
Photos: Courtesy Foto Marvellini
