Virgil Cantini
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| Virgil D. Cantini | |
| Born | 1919 Italy |
| Nationality | Italian-American, U.S. Resident since 1930 |
| Field | Enamelist, Sculptor |
| Training | Manhattan College, Carnegie Mellon University, PhD, Duquesne University |
| Works | "Man" sculpture (1965) |
| Awards | Time Magazine "Hundred Leaders of Tomorrow" (1953) Guggenheim Fellowship (1957) |
Virgil David Cantini (1919 - ) is an enamelist[1] sculptor and educator. He has many large scale works throughout the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2] Professor Cantini has been a long time member of the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh,[3] formerly chair of the Department of Art,[4] now Professor of Studio Arts, Emeritus.[5] As an artist, he is known for innovation with enamel and steel.[6] He has received both local and national recognition for his work, including honorary awards, competitive prizes and commissions,[7] and a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1957.[8]
[edit] Partial list of works
- 24 by 36 foot Mosaic, Teplitz Memorial Moot Courtroom, Barco Law Building, University of Pittsburgh, School of Law, representing the artist's conception of the harmony of the law and the rich tapestry of the American legal system[9]
- "Mosaic Tunnel," Glass mosaic (1964), Pedestrian tunnel behind U.S. Steel Tower, beneath Bigelow Boulevard, downtown Pittsburgh.[6]
- "Man," Bronze and Steel sculpture (1965), Parran Hall facade, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health.[10] Cantini designed Man as a sculpture referring to the body, knowledge, and health.[11]
- "Ode to Space," Steel with bronze and glass sculpture (1966), Forbes Avenue at University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Dedicated as a tribute to Chancellor Edward Litchfield, who died in a plane crash in 1968.[11]
- "Joy of Life," Cor-Ten steel sculpture (1969), East Liberty Mall at Penn and Highland Avenues, Pittsburgh.[12]
- "Aerial Scape, Skyscape," Porcelain enamel (1970), One Oliver Plaza, Rear Lobby, 210 Sixth Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh.[6]
- "Science and Mankind" Porcelain enamel mural (1973) in Chevron Science Center at the University of Pittsburgh is said to be his proudest work.[13]
- "Enlightenment and Joy," porcelain enamel mural (1977) entrance to Wesley W. Posvar Hall University of Pittsburgh.[14]The vibrant colors are the result of several layers of paint on each individual tile.[11]
- Large enamel painting framing a crucifix and enamel paintings of the 14 stations of the cross, originally in St. Henry Church in the Arlington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, moved to the now failed art museum at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.[15]
 A tapestry hanging on the first floor of the Hillman Library |
 A tapestry hanging on the first floor of the Hillman Library |
 "Ode to Space" outside David Lawrence Hall |
 Sculpture on the first floor of the Hillman Library |
 "Skyscape" in the Wesley W. Posvar Hall. |
 Wood sculpture of the arrow-pierced Saint Sebastian in the Hillman Library |
 "Science and Mankind" in the Chevron Science Center. |
 "Enlightenment and Joy" in the lobby of the Wesley W. Posvar Hall |
[edit] References
- ^ Wilson, Winefriede (1965). Christian Art Since the Romantic Movement. Burns & Oates, p. 131. “Virgil Cantini is noted for his enamels in the USA.”
- ^ Virgil Cantini - Artist, Art - Virgil D. Cantini. AskART. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. “An enamelist sculptor and educator, Virgil Cantini has been a prolific sculptor whose work, often large scale, is throughout the city of Pittsburgh including in the lobbies of office buildings, private homes and in outdoor public places.”
- ^ Musmanno, Michael Angelo (1965). The story of the Italians in America, Your ancestor series. DoubleDay. “Virgil Cantini of the University of Pittsburgh is a dedicated and accomplished craftsman in painting, sculpture, art metal, and pottery.”
- ^ Education at Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. “Virgil Cantini, former chair of the Department of Art at the University of Pittsburgh”
- ^ Faculty of Arts and Sciences. University of Pittsburgh, Graduate Arts and Sciences. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. “VIRGIL D. CANTINI,* Professor of Studio Arts, Emeritus. PhD, Duquesne University”
- ^ a b c Office of Public Art (2006), Pittsburgh Art in Public Places : Downtown Walking Tour, Pittsburgh, PA, pp. pp. 63, 124, <http://www.publicartpittsburgh.org/public_art_walkingtour.htm>
- ^ Institute of Man (1979). Humanitas. Center for the Study of Human Development of the Institute of Man, p. 133. “VIRGIL CANTINI, contemporary sculptor, artist-teacher and professor of fine arts at the University of Pittsburgh, has received both local and national recognition for his work, including honorary awards, competitive prizes and commissions.”
- ^ John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (1975). Directory of Fellows, 1925-1974. The Foundation, p. 61. “Cantini, Virgil David. Artist; Professor of Fine Arts, University of Pittsburgh: 1957.”
- ^ Facilities - About Us - Pitt Law. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. “A focus of visual interest is the large (24 by 36 foot) mosaic mounted on the wall behind the judges' bench...a dramatic compound of 126 porcelain-on-steel pieces [that] represents the artist's conception of the harmony of the law and the rich tapestry of the American legal system.”
- ^ University of Pittsburgh: Graduate School of Public Health: Sculpture. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. “Hanging high atop Parran Hall's facade, "Man" symbolizes the human quest for knowledge, with special reference to international research in the health fields.”
- ^ a b c Office of Public Art (2006), Pittsburgh Art in Public Places - Oakland Walking Tour, Pittsburgh, PA, <http://www.publicartpittsburgh.org/public_art_walkingtour.htm>
- ^ Gaser, Mary Ann. "Meet Me by the Mother’s Statue : Sculpture as Landmarks" ([dead link] – Scholar search). Pittsburgh Gifted Center. ““Virgil Cantini’s Joy of Life is the focal point of the East Liberty Mall. Commissioned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, the fountain was dedicated in 1969.”
- ^ Slattery, Holden. "Cantini's art beautifies Pitt", The Pitt News, 2007-10-26. "Cantini is most proud of his 1973 work, "Science and Mankind," a 40 by 30 foot porcelain enamel mural inside the Chevron Science Center, depicting a man and a woman touching hands, their skeletal and muscular systems exposed."
- ^ "Office of Public Art Releases Oakland Walking Tour" (2006-11). Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. “The complete tour takes about 75-120 minutes and includes historic sculptures and buildings such as...Enlightenment and Joy, the 1977 porcelain enamel mural by Virgil Cantini...”
- ^ Ackerman, Jan. "Arlington church's artwork headed to cultural center in Washington, D.C.", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005-08-25. "When St. Henry on Arlington Avenue closes this month, Cantini's 14 enamel paintings of the stations of the cross and the centerpiece enamel painting and crucifix behind the altar at St. Henry will be getting a new life."
