Artwork
Object number2013.93.6
ArtistPossibly
G. Harris
Artist
Gianni Meffe
Date2008
MediumCeramic/Paint
Credit LineGift of Joseph D'Andrea
DescriptionRoof tile with handpainted multicolored scene of an Italian town with blue sky and greenery. Five strands of rope attached through two cut holes through the top for hanging purposes.Dimensions3 x 7.5 x 17.5 in. (7.6 x 19.1 x 44.5 cm)SignedArtist signature painted on lower right corner of tile "Dilinto [?] / AHANO [?] / G. HARRIS".
InscriptionsPainted above scene in black: "Torella del Sannio"; on lower right corner: "A Joseph con / gratitudine / Gianni Meffe / 06/12/2008".
Historical NotesHandpainted ceramic roof tile was a gift to Mr. D'Andrea and commemorates the 6 years he dedicated to researching the Monongah mine disaster of 1907. Shocked and dismayed that the 362 men and boys, 171 of who were Italian, that perished in the explosion were largely unidentified, he set out to uncover their names and honor their memory. Mr. D’Andrea conducted research in Italy and facilitated a relationship between Italy and Fairmont, West Virginia, which led to the region of Molise installing a bell in Monongah’s town square in 2007 for the disaster’s 100th anniversary. The ceramic roof tile, which comes from a structure in the Molise region, was painted by Gianni Meffe with a scene of the village where many of the miners who died emigrated from. Part of a collection of artifacts donated by first-generation Italian American Joseph D’Andrea that reflects the various activities he was involved in during his illustrious career in Pittsburgh as Consul of Italy, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, member of the Board of Directors of the National Education Association, and founder and president of the Italian Cultural Heritage Society.
Previous owner
Joseph D'Andrea
On View
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