Virgil David Cantini was born on February 28, 1919, in Pietransieri, Italy, the son of Giancinto Eliso and Marie A. Graziani Cantini. Virgil and his family emigrated from Italy to Weirton, West Virginia, in the 1920s.
He initially attended Manhattan College in New York before transferring to Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, (now Carnegie Mellon University) where he received a football scholarship and earned All-America status as a quarterback. His studies were interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army, making topographical maps and models in North Africa.
Following the war, Cantini received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1946 from Carnegie Tech and married fellow art student, Lucille Kleber. Cantini went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Pittsburgh in 1948 and was granted an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Duquesne University in 1982.
Cantini and his wife settled in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh where they had two daughters, Maria and Lisa, and lived for 60 years. His home on the 200 block of South Craig Street also served as his studio and gallery.
Beginning in 1948, Cantini's artwork gained national exposure. In 1956, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts named Cantini the region's Artist of the Year, and he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1957. By 1959, Cantini was considered among the most prominent contemporary enamelists. He was awarded the Pope Paul VI Bishop's Medal in 1964 for "outstanding contribution in the field of liturgical art," and, in 1968, the
Da Vinci Medal by the Cultural Heritage Foundation of the Italian Sons & Daughters of America. Among his works in liturgical art are a large enamel painting framing a crucifix and enamel paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross. These were originally in St. Henry Church in the Arlington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later moved to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. Cantini also crafted enamel Stations of the Cross for other churches and chapels in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Cantini was a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh for 38 years, retiring in 1989. He was the first Chair of the Department of Studio Arts, which he is credited with establishing. He also served on the University's Athletic Committee in the 1970s. Dr. Cantini formerly served as the Chair of the Department of Art and served as Professor of Studio Arts, Emeritus, until his death.
His public artwork adorns many buildings and churches throughout the Pittsburgh region. He was a renown enamelist, sculptor, and educator, known for his innovation with enamel and steel. Two of his better-known works in Pittsburgh include: "Man," a bronze and steel sculpture (1965) on the façade of Parran Hall, which houses the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health, and "Joy of Life," a Cor-Ten steel sculpture (1969) near the East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Both are pictured on this memorial.
Dr. Virgil David Cantini passed away on May 2, 2009, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Cantini-Seguin (Jim); siblings Emma DiCiccio, Laguna Beach, California; and Andy Cantini, Canton, Ohio; and grandchildren Matthew, Andrew, Maria, and Lizzy Seguin. He was predeceased by his wife, Lucille Kleber Cantini, daughter Maria Cantini, his parents, and several brothers and sisters.
Visitation was at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc., 4900 Centre Ave. at Devonshire St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Paul Cathedral in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Information taken from Wikipedia, the obituary, and from personal knowledge.
Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699.
He initially attended Manhattan College in New York before transferring to Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, (now Carnegie Mellon University) where he received a football scholarship and earned All-America status as a quarterback. His studies were interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army, making topographical maps and models in North Africa.
Following the war, Cantini received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1946 from Carnegie Tech and married fellow art student, Lucille Kleber. Cantini went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Pittsburgh in 1948 and was granted an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Duquesne University in 1982.
Cantini and his wife settled in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh where they had two daughters, Maria and Lisa, and lived for 60 years. His home on the 200 block of South Craig Street also served as his studio and gallery.
Beginning in 1948, Cantini's artwork gained national exposure. In 1956, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts named Cantini the region's Artist of the Year, and he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1957. By 1959, Cantini was considered among the most prominent contemporary enamelists. He was awarded the Pope Paul VI Bishop's Medal in 1964 for "outstanding contribution in the field of liturgical art," and, in 1968, the
Da Vinci Medal by the Cultural Heritage Foundation of the Italian Sons & Daughters of America. Among his works in liturgical art are a large enamel painting framing a crucifix and enamel paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross. These were originally in St. Henry Church in the Arlington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later moved to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. Cantini also crafted enamel Stations of the Cross for other churches and chapels in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Cantini was a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh for 38 years, retiring in 1989. He was the first Chair of the Department of Studio Arts, which he is credited with establishing. He also served on the University's Athletic Committee in the 1970s. Dr. Cantini formerly served as the Chair of the Department of Art and served as Professor of Studio Arts, Emeritus, until his death.
His public artwork adorns many buildings and churches throughout the Pittsburgh region. He was a renown enamelist, sculptor, and educator, known for his innovation with enamel and steel. Two of his better-known works in Pittsburgh include: "Man," a bronze and steel sculpture (1965) on the façade of Parran Hall, which houses the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health, and "Joy of Life," a Cor-Ten steel sculpture (1969) near the East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Both are pictured on this memorial.
Dr. Virgil David Cantini passed away on May 2, 2009, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Cantini-Seguin (Jim); siblings Emma DiCiccio, Laguna Beach, California; and Andy Cantini, Canton, Ohio; and grandchildren Matthew, Andrew, Maria, and Lizzy Seguin. He was predeceased by his wife, Lucille Kleber Cantini, daughter Maria Cantini, his parents, and several brothers and sisters.
Visitation was at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc., 4900 Centre Ave. at Devonshire St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Paul Cathedral in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Information taken from Wikipedia, the obituary, and from personal knowledge.
Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699.
Virgil David Cantini was born on February 28, 1919, in Pietransieri, Italy, the son of Giancinto Eliso and Marie A. Graziani Cantini. Virgil and his family emigrated from Italy to Weirton, West Virginia, in the 1920s.
He initially attended Manhattan College in New York before transferring to Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, (now Carnegie Mellon University) where he received a football scholarship and earned All-America status as a quarterback. His studies were interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army, making topographical maps and models in North Africa.
Following the war, Cantini received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1946 from Carnegie Tech and married fellow art student, Lucille Kleber. Cantini went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Pittsburgh in 1948 and was granted an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Duquesne University in 1982.
Cantini and his wife settled in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh where they had two daughters, Maria and Lisa, and lived for 60 years. His home on the 200 block of South Craig Street also served as his studio and gallery.
Beginning in 1948, Cantini's artwork gained national exposure. In 1956, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts named Cantini the region's Artist of the Year, and he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1957. By 1959, Cantini was considered among the most prominent contemporary enamelists. He was awarded the Pope Paul VI Bishop's Medal in 1964 for "outstanding contribution in the field of liturgical art," and, in 1968, the
Da Vinci Medal by the Cultural Heritage Foundation of the Italian Sons & Daughters of America. Among his works in liturgical art are a large enamel painting framing a crucifix and enamel paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross. These were originally in St. Henry Church in the Arlington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later moved to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. Cantini also crafted enamel Stations of the Cross for other churches and chapels in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Cantini was a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh for 38 years, retiring in 1989. He was the first Chair of the Department of Studio Arts, which he is credited with establishing. He also served on the University's Athletic Committee in the 1970s. Dr. Cantini formerly served as the Chair of the Department of Art and served as Professor of Studio Arts, Emeritus, until his death.
His public artwork adorns many buildings and churches throughout the Pittsburgh region. He was a renown enamelist, sculptor, and educator, known for his innovation with enamel and steel. Two of his better-known works in Pittsburgh include: "Man," a bronze and steel sculpture (1965) on the façade of Parran Hall, which houses the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health, and "Joy of Life," a Cor-Ten steel sculpture (1969) near the East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Both are pictured on this memorial.
Dr. Virgil David Cantini passed away on May 2, 2009, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Cantini-Seguin (Jim); siblings Emma DiCiccio, Laguna Beach, California; and Andy Cantini, Canton, Ohio; and grandchildren Matthew, Andrew, Maria, and Lizzy Seguin. He was predeceased by his wife, Lucille Kleber Cantini, daughter Maria Cantini, his parents, and several brothers and sisters.
Visitation was at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc., 4900 Centre Ave. at Devonshire St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Paul Cathedral in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Information taken from Wikipedia, the obituary, and from personal knowledge.
Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699.
He initially attended Manhattan College in New York before transferring to Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, (now Carnegie Mellon University) where he received a football scholarship and earned All-America status as a quarterback. His studies were interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army, making topographical maps and models in North Africa.
Following the war, Cantini received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1946 from Carnegie Tech and married fellow art student, Lucille Kleber. Cantini went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Pittsburgh in 1948 and was granted an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Duquesne University in 1982.
Cantini and his wife settled in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh where they had two daughters, Maria and Lisa, and lived for 60 years. His home on the 200 block of South Craig Street also served as his studio and gallery.
Beginning in 1948, Cantini's artwork gained national exposure. In 1956, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts named Cantini the region's Artist of the Year, and he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1957. By 1959, Cantini was considered among the most prominent contemporary enamelists. He was awarded the Pope Paul VI Bishop's Medal in 1964 for "outstanding contribution in the field of liturgical art," and, in 1968, the
Da Vinci Medal by the Cultural Heritage Foundation of the Italian Sons & Daughters of America. Among his works in liturgical art are a large enamel painting framing a crucifix and enamel paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross. These were originally in St. Henry Church in the Arlington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later moved to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. Cantini also crafted enamel Stations of the Cross for other churches and chapels in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Cantini was a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh for 38 years, retiring in 1989. He was the first Chair of the Department of Studio Arts, which he is credited with establishing. He also served on the University's Athletic Committee in the 1970s. Dr. Cantini formerly served as the Chair of the Department of Art and served as Professor of Studio Arts, Emeritus, until his death.
His public artwork adorns many buildings and churches throughout the Pittsburgh region. He was a renown enamelist, sculptor, and educator, known for his innovation with enamel and steel. Two of his better-known works in Pittsburgh include: "Man," a bronze and steel sculpture (1965) on the façade of Parran Hall, which houses the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health, and "Joy of Life," a Cor-Ten steel sculpture (1969) near the East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Both are pictured on this memorial.
Dr. Virgil David Cantini passed away on May 2, 2009, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Cantini-Seguin (Jim); siblings Emma DiCiccio, Laguna Beach, California; and Andy Cantini, Canton, Ohio; and grandchildren Matthew, Andrew, Maria, and Lizzy Seguin. He was predeceased by his wife, Lucille Kleber Cantini, daughter Maria Cantini, his parents, and several brothers and sisters.
Visitation was at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc., 4900 Centre Ave. at Devonshire St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Paul Cathedral in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Information taken from Wikipedia, the obituary, and from personal knowledge.
Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699.
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