The following is courtesy of Ilene Skeen, Library Committee, Salmagundi Museum. She credits the member records of the Salmagundi Club.

Antonio Cirino

Born in Italy, March 23, 1888, Antonio Cirino came to the United States as a child of three. He had talents for painting, writing, teaching, and designing jewelry. In the 1920s, he discovered Rockport, Massachusetts, and began living there in the summers and in Providence, Rhode Island the remainder of the year.

He attended the Rhode Island School of Design from 1904-1909 and later taught there. He received a Bachelors of Science Degree from Columbia Teachers College in 1912. He studied art in Italy and was a pupil of Arthur Wesley Dow. Antonio Cirino was a founding member of the Rockport Art Association.

Cirino designed a 14 karat gold key to the city of Providence, Rhode Island, which was awarded to General Amardo Diaz, for Italy's efforts in the First World War, 1914-1918. He published a book on jewelry design in 1939 and completed a thirteen volume compilation of illustration in America (1855-1912) with a forward which he wrote. This book was privately bound.

Cirino joined the Salmagundi Club of New York City in 1926 as a non-resident Artist Member. He actively contributed to the exhibitions until his death, November 28, 1983.

He was a committed plein-air painter, loving the feeling of working directly from nature. He bequeathed the majority of his work to the Rockport Art Association, and it became the cornerstone of their growing collection. Many fine examples of Cirino's work were bequeathed to the Salmagundi Museum as well.

Works located at:
Fleet Library, Rhode Island School of Design:
ACCESS RESTRICTED. APPOINTMENT REQUIRED
1. Sketchbook, "The Etruscans and their jewelry" (SPECIAL NK7307.2.R67 1953)
This leather-bound book, created by Cirino, contains his hand-drawn and colored illustrations of Etruscan jewelry

Newport Art Museum:
ACCESS RESTRICTED. APPOINTMENT REQUIRED
1. Oil painting, "Winter Landscape" (acc.# 986.003)

Providence Art Club:
ACCESS RESTRICTED. APPOINTMENT REQUIRED
1. Oil painting, "Boats"
2. Oil painting, "Boats at Rockport"
3. Oil painting, "Village with Figure and Dog"
4. Oil painting, "Fruits and Flowers"
5. Four engraving blocks

Rhode Island School of Design:
ACCESS RESTRICTED. APPOINTMENT REQUIRED
1. Oil painting on canvas, "When Rain Commands" (acc.# 80.167)



Source:
Unveiled: a directory and guide to 19th century born artists active in Rhode Island, and where to find their work in publicly accessible Rhode Island collections
by Elinor L. Nacheman

This biographical material comes from the member records of the Salmagundi. Ilene Skeen Library Committee, Salmagundi Museum

Born in Italy, March 23, 1888, Antonio Cirino came to the United States as a child of three. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design from 1904-1909 and later taught there. He received a Bachelors of Science Degree from Columbia Teachers College in 1912. He studied art in Italy and was a pupil of Arthur Wesley Dow. Cirino designed a 14 karat gold key to the city of Providence, Rhode Island, which was awarded to General Amardo Diaz, for Italy's efforts in the First World War, 1914-1918. He published a book on jewelry design in 1939 and completed a thirteen volume compilation of illustration in America (1855-1912) with a forward which he wrote. This book was privately bound.

Cirino joined the Salmagundi Club of New York City in 1926 as a non-resident Artist Member. He actively contributed to the exhibitions until his death, November 28, 1983. Many fine examples of Cirino's work were bequeathed to the Salmagundi Museum.