A Mini Biographical Look Into John Castagno
Who Am I? And Why Am I Who I Am?
I am one of the furtunate persons to have reached the age of 78 and still going strong in what I do. I look back over my years and see a multifaceted life, a life that even astounds me in retrospect.
Briefly, My First Sixteen Years
I was the youngest of eleven children; most of my brothers and sisters were from previous marriages of my parents whose spouses died during the terrible worldwide flu epidemic….sadly, just me and one full sister survive today. My mother died when I was 13, and my father cared for me into my adult life. We were a poor hard working family, never complaining, never saying we were poor, never jealous or envious of others…..just living our lives. My Parents were caring and loving and self sacrificing parents, never scolding or hitting me. Early on, many tragedies touched our lives.
When I was one year old our family home burned down. When I was six, my favorite brother unexpectedly died in a hospital. One year later one of my sisters was giving birth to her first child in marriage, and died through the negligence of the doctors. They forcibly held an ether mask on her face while she was vomiting, and she choked to death. They were able to save her child.
In retrospect, I guess my young years spared me a lot of the pain my parents must have endured. I was a happy child, never having much, and never wanting much. My mother took me everywhere she went. In the summer she would take me bathing to Red Bank, NJ, and trips to the city zoo in open air trolley cars. She was beautiful, with long black hair that she wore in a bun; her skin was clear and smooth like porcelain. I was with her when she died in our home from a stroke…..those last moments and my words to her are forever embedded in my heart and memory.
I’m now 14 and I change from catholic school to public school because of some improper advances of a priest; I never chose to go public with it. I’m now 15 and one of my brothers was murdered. I’m now 16, and another brother is murdered. Each time, my poor father had to go to the morgue to identify them, in their blood spattered state…..what a trauma, what a horrible experience. My poor “Pop”, my heart still aches for you. Eventually the police stated that my brothers were innocent victims of an organized crime gang called “Murder, Inc.” through forensic tests of the bullets.
1947 to 1960
My father ran a small house painting and brick pointing business. I left school in the eleventh grade to work full time with my father. We worked steady, but the income was nominal; we worked all season, borrowing to live through the winter, and paying off the loans in the spring. But somehow, we always managed and never complained. My father was a gentle man of strong character, he was my best friend. Our brick pointing business became the best residential business, often being recommended by the Philadelphia Historical commission.
I had many neighborhood friends during my teen years; always having a girlfriend or a crush on someone. We always had simple and clean fun, never fighting with each other. At 19 I fell in love and went steady for four years; but I broke it off one month before our wedding date after gradually realizing it would have been a mistake.
I was always artistically inclined, making drawings for the nuns during my parochial school days. At age 22 I wrote a play and the words to the musical score; friends of mine collaborated on the music. We came very close to producing it, but did not raise enough money. Years later a music company sent us small royalty checks for using some of my songs during their tour of Japan.
During the next eight years I gradually strayed from my neighborhood friends and went about life as a loner. I enrolled in several art schools in the late 1950s, and became a serious painter by 1960.
1960 was the beginning of a major turn around in my life, for the solidifying of my character, my morals, and my value as a human being.
1960-1980
I became good friends with a wonderful woman artist, Elaine Dubrow; she was a great influence in my early paintings. About 1963, I enrolled in the Barnes Foundation’s two year course for art appreciatio, and it remains a major influence in my art and how I look at art.
My father retired from the business, and I continued with it with a childhood friend that had worked with us since the late 1940s. Then in 1967 my father passed away. I miss him terribly, I loved him deeply, I dream of him often.
The late 1960s were tumultuous years with the Vietnam war and the social revolution. Like all Americans, it had some impact on me. I produced two paintings based on the colors and design of the American Flag…..done solely on emotion and inspiration, with no conscious understanding as to “Why” until a year later when everything surfaced from my subconscious. I took my first trip to Europe in 1969, for a month…..and early on during this trip I found myself apologizing for being an American because of the war and our social upheavals…..but towards the end of my trip there was a complete reversal of feelings. I looked at the many countries I was visiting and saw that they were like “Ostriches, hiding their heads in the sands regarding their own problems, but anxious and willing to criticize us.” I revolted against them. I suddenly became a very proud American because we were not a complacent nation but rather a nation that dealt “openly” with our problems: I loved America, I love our Flag.
When I returned I went headlong into making my paintings based on the American flag; making social, political, and nostalgic comments on ways of American life. This solo exhibition of my art traveled around America for three years after its first exhibit at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. It was a major success with many good reviews.
My original schedule was worldwide, but circumstances seem to indicate that the FBI and the CIA were in collusion to scuttle my exhibits…..so I secretly rescheduled my exhibit tours to outwit them. The mentality of the FBI and CIA at that particular time was: You only wave the flag, any other way of using it was “Anti-American”….. Give me a break!
I continued to paint our flag up to 1976, and had seven simultaneous solo-exhibits that year.
During the 1970s I became an art dealer, buying, collecting and selling art. I started donating art, annually, since 1973 to museums and other public institutions. In the late 1970s I took many cruise trips in the Carribean and South America, and the Mediterranean as a guest speaker on art.
1980-2000
During one of my South American cruises I became very friendly with a wealthy New York man, Jerry Cohen, who loved buying art but had no understanding as to how to research art. We remained good friends after the cruise and I advised him on how to go about building a good research library. I was very much into research and had a large storage of unpublished information and I would give him some of it from time to time. Then one day he suggested I should write a book; that was the spark that started me writing……within a year I was working six books simultaneously. By 1990 three books were published, and three others during the 1990s.
As I look back I am thankful and feel fortunate that I turned my life around to become a worthwhile and giving human being, unselfish, never envious, and eternally optimistic. Despite being somewhat of a loner, I have made many strong friendships with good people of all ages who have values and character I can respect.
A Small Time-Out Break on Civic Events
I live on a wide Avenue/(State Highway) with two-way traffic. In early 1980 a private plumbing contractor cut a wide swath across the avenue, refilled it with dirt but no metal plates over it. Two way traffic distributed mud and dust up to our front doors for a city block in each direction. I called the city and state officers daily, for two weeks, to send metal plates to cover the trench until it was paved…..with no results….. So, I stopped traffic entirely on this busy street. Police came, and I would not budge; then a riot squad came and still I would not budge….I declared: “This inundation with dust is a health problem; and when the government fails to protect its citizens, then citizens have the right to protect themselves”, asserting my legal right to be there. The police agreed, and supplied me with barracades. Within 28 hours the city came and paved the trench. One up for correct civil disobedience!
I’ve lived in this same house since 1938. Just like my re-awareness of the American flag in 1970 I became re-aware of the look of my neighborhood…..a conceret jungle with not a tree in sight, but it had sixteen green utility poles to adorn our street. Over time I became angry and disheartened with this bleak look. Since then I have greened my neighborhood with more than fifteen in-ground trees and more than 120 large planters with evergreens curb-side and wall-side. Over the years I have paid for 90% of its cost, and I spend an average of ten hours a week cleaning the street and pavements, planting flowers in the summer, and watering every tree and planter. This greenery accomplishment has won several 1st and 2nd prizes in city contests.
At another point, the public transportation in this city started to paint their green utility poles white (but returned to green in later years.) After I had greened my neighborhood, they came along and painted all the poles white. I was furious; it was an aesthetic eye sore. I called, and complained, and was lucky to be speaking with someone who appreciated my complaint as valid. He sent his workmen back, just to my block, and had them repaint the poles green.
Lesson learned: When you’re absolutely sure you’re right, don’t back down.
Philanthropy
Earlier on I mentioned I have donated art since 1973 to museums and other public institutions. I’ve been focusing strongly on Villanova University, helping to build their collectinon, getting them many donators which have greatly expanded their collection. I’m now their appraiser for all new art acquisitions.
During the last major earth quake in the early 1980s in Southern Italy, I spent two months collecting aid for my father’s small home town. I handled it directly, no middle men. I sent 1,000+ lbs. of clothing, tents, space heaters, toys, shoes, building tools, as well as $3,000 of my own money.
2000-2006: The Years of Corporate Dishonesty and Empty Words
My reputation as an artist signature expert is now firmly established around the world. My publisher showed great interest for creating a web site of my work, agreeing to all my terms since I own the electronic rights to all my books. After a year and a half of negotiations, contracts were sent to me with totally unacceptable terms. I canceled any further web site talks and told my publisher to just continue only publishing my books. A year and a half of my precious life, at age 74, wasted on dishonesty.
Art Price, a large web site based in Paris, contacted me with an interest in using my work on their site. After some initial conversations it was obvious they were trying to scam me. I broke all contact with them.
I approached Art Net, the biggest artist website in the world, and had a board meeting with them in New York. They liked my work, and the idea of having a special category of my work on their website. They said I would have to wait a year before they could start on my project because they had to finish work on other projects. I agreed to wait, no contract, taking them at their word. After waiting a year, they tell me they are further involved in other projects and I would have to wait another eighteen months “with no guarantee.” I said no more waiting, I’ll do my own website.
Another year of my precious life wasted on empty words…
In the meantime I was in contact with AskArt, a website on American Artists. They said they were willing to make a connecting link to my website once it got operating.
A dear friend of mine, who is a good businessman, had been asking me to have him fund the organizing of my website. I finally agreed to give it a try; and I’m completely satisfied that I did. We hired two very young computer wizards, Justine and Matt, who proved phenomenal in their expertise. My dear friend, Tony, has given nearly two years of dedicated time overseeing the project and working on it himself. We now have a four way ownership/partnership in the website. No other concern would have organized and designed this site as thoroughly. Visit us on our site: www.ArtistsSignatures.com.
In the meantime I had four more books published. Art News Magazine also published a great article about me and my work in their December 2007 issue. Sotheby’s included my book brochures in their mailed catalogs. Auction houses all around the world send me complimentary painting catalogs for further use in my work. I’m now firmly established around the world.
Finally, Ask Art was starting to use some of my artists’ signatures without my permission. They had decided to begin to include my signatures on their site. I put a stop to them using my signatures. They wanted to negotiate. They made some sillly offers which amounted to their “free use” of my work. We negotiated further, with my offering them a connecting link with monetary rewards for them. The response was total silence.
So, this is the business world!! Say anything, do anything, have no conscience.
2008: Looking At Myself
I’m far from being monetarily secure, but I continue as alway, giving art, giving spontaneous gifts to others; to my doctors, to my friends, to my many relatives in Italy, to my sister. Maybe there’s something subconsciously selfish about it all, but consciously I love giving with no expected return. I love knowing that in some way I am adding to the immortality of many artists that I record in my work. I love knowing, even for many years when I’m long gone, researchers will be thankful that I’ve recorded information that answers their needs. My books, my website, my unique way of presenting the American flag in my art are my legacies I will leave to the world.
May 19th, 2008 17:44
What a fantastic site! Thanks for sharing your story via the blog; it is wonderful to see what formed the person who made the collection. As an amateur collector who haunts various dusty shops & sales looking for beautiful objects, I’ve got several paintings with illegible signatures and look forward to researching their possible creators!
Thank you for sharing your work and passion with us,
Susa
July 18th, 2008 07:55
I am new to your website, but will use it often. I know very little about art, as I just started collecting Native American Indian and Navajo art. I try to research before I buy. Your life story is very interesting and I truly enjoyed the inspiration I received when reading it. Keep up the fight!!!!
Linda
September 14th, 2008 05:29
Dear John,
A while ago I received an invitation to be included into one of your European Artists books. I would like to send you the information, but I don’t have your email address. Could you please give it to me? And the signature examples, do you want them photographed? If so, how large?
Kind regards,
Mirjam Pet-Jacobs
November 12th, 2008 17:36
nrk4y65hfospwl21
January 3rd, 2009 10:33
Hi,
Thank you for writing such an honest, heartfelt story of your life.
I’ll tell you how moved I am. I initially wanted to write to you to ask why would you use the credit system for payment instead of a few different rates for the whole month, week, etc. I own two of your books and find them very useful, but as I get older the thought of lifting books, isn’t as appealing as working on your web site. This system of credits, for me, is hard to keep track of and just isn’t as easy as the other monthly, weekly, daily rate plans.
My level of dissatisfaction has subsided greatly after reading your very honest story. I will probably try your credit system and see how it goes.
Thank you for listening. Have a Happy, Healthy New Year.
Allyson
(freezing in New Jersey)
February 6th, 2009 17:34
I have this early painting that I cannt make out the name of.. Is there some way that could email you the image of the signiture…Its a Vinice painting..
February 23rd, 2009 13:04
Hi, What a great blog… Keep on doing what you are doing. I love to paint and draw but don’t consider myself and artist… Your accomplishments are many… “Great Job” and Keep It Up!!!
I bought an old painting and it appears to have an H in the bottom right but I don’t see it on your site so I have not yet paid to look further. I could scan it and send it to you if you think you could help, or please let me know what you suggest… Maybe it is a JG rather than an H…or a TC or TG…. The painting is an origional… dark sunset/shoreline with old sail and fishing boats in backhground… stick figure people on beach…Very Primative style little detail.
Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Best Regards,
Christine Mikulas
July 19th, 2009 02:18
Great post. I am just starting my blog as well. Do you find it hard to have something to say, because I don’t feel like natural writer and it seems to come natural for you.
July 25th, 2009 20:13
Your site says i dont have to pay but you sure dont give any information if you dont pay why dony you say that instead of lying to people!
July 31st, 2009 13:12
I am a subscriber and recently researched the signature of artist Pablo Antonio Milan. After much additional research, it appears to me that the signature you are displaying is erroneous. I say this because, if the one appearing on your website is correct, then everyone else on the planet is wrong….including works currently displayed on Mr. Milan’s own gallery/website. Please get back to me with an explanation if possible.
Deborah Caravona
August 30th, 2009 15:51
I thought I wasnt going to like this blog but more I read the more I liked it.
October 27th, 2009 17:26
Dear John,
My grandparents were related to you in some way … Jennie and Joe Castagno … and were always proud of your accomplishments. Before they passed away … Jennie in 1972 and Joe in about 8 years later … they gave me brochures and such announcing exhibits of your work in the Philadelphia area. I still have them. Many blessings!
Francine
November 20th, 2009 02:48
Dear Francine Castagno McCarthy:
Your grand father Joe was a first cousin to my father Joseph.
I have fond early memories of Jennie and Joe when they would
visit my father in Philadelphia. Contact with your family some
how stopped after my father passed away in 1967. In recent
years I tried to make contact with Castagnos in Boston without
success. I’m so pleased that you placed your message on my
blog. Look me up if you’re ever in Philadelphia. I’d love to know
about the other Castagnos. Send me your address and/or phone number. John C., 1142 Snyder Ave.,Phila.,PA 19148
November 20th, 2009 14:26
Dear Deborah Caravona: Sorry for the long delay in responding
to you. I do not believe the signature you quote in not correct.
In my 30 years of documenting artists’ signatures I have found
many, many variations of one artist’s signature style. My signature style is correct. I’m not quite sure at this point where
I got the signature….possibly it was from Monte Wade Fine Arts
in Santa Fe or San Antonio sometime in the 1980s
Perhaps if you check with them they may have illustrations of
his works that they had in the 1980s which will show you the
signature you are questioning. John Castagno
November 20th, 2009 14:36
Wendy:
First of all you should pay better attention to the English language. My site does not SAY you don’t have to pay….my
site SAYS you can browse freely……JUST LIKE YOU CAN BROWSE
OTHER SITE BEFORE PAYING FOR SPECIPIC INFORMATION.
IT WAS NOT VERY NICE OF YOU TO PLACE SUCH A CRITICISM ON MY BLOG…..WHEN IN FACT YOU WERE WRONG!
JOHN CASTAGNO
November 21st, 2009 15:44
Dear John,
I was very touched by your biography.
RESPECT!
It is a nice example for younger people, keep believing in what you are doing en never give up!
With my best regards,
Jurgen ( Belgium Europe)
November 27th, 2009 18:48
Jurgen:
Thanks for your comment on my blog. Just knowing that
someone reads about my experiences and enjoys it gives
me a lot of satisfaction.
Stay well….be happy….and always see the sun on a rainy day.
John Castagno
December 11th, 2009 14:09
Dear Mr. Castagno- I recently subscribed to the basic “8 credit” service that you provide.
I have a printout of this subscription, but I received a notice that my credit card was debited for a more expensive, $29/month service. I have not used any service yet, as I wanted to get this corrected. However, I have sent an email to support@artistssignatures.com for the past 6 days, but no one will respond to my request. I am sure that I will be a regular customer beyond the “8 credits” in the future, but I would be grateful if someone would respond to my requests. Thanks in advance. Bill McGregor
December 12th, 2009 01:24
Dear Bill Gregor:
We have been having some problems with the person who is
responsible for handling the artistsSignatures site. please call
me at 215-389-4014 to discuss your situation. I will try, on
my own, to see what I can do for you. I apologize for the
inconvenience.
John Castagno
December 15th, 2009 14:17
Dear Uncle John,
Thank you for your latest brochure and your note. I hope you don’t mind that I’m using your blog to get in touch.
Wow! Even though I am your niece, the one born to the sister who died in childbirth, I loved reading your life story. I am familiar with some of it, but have to admit that I was really enlightened by a lot of it. I, too, tried to make contact with the Boston Castagnos since I had corresponded for many years with “Aunt” Jennie, and I have letters to my mom from Jennie’s daughter, Francis. You can feel free to give Francine my email address.
In the meantime, I want you to know how proud I am of all that you have done and all that you have become.
Love, Natalie
December 16th, 2009 12:45
Natalie:
Thanks for the blog letter. Where did all those years go? Life
passes so quickly, and precious contacts dwindle. I do not have
your e-mail address to forward to Francine. She plans to send
me some family information….I’ll keep you posted. We have a
lot of cousins in the Wilmington area from my father’s sister….
contacts with them have almost stopped. I keep in touch with
my family in Italy, and have visited them several times. I may go
there in June for one of my cousin’s wedding.
Love, Uncle John
December 17th, 2009 15:33
Dear Mr. Castagno- Thank you for your time.
I am interested in your service. I will take your advice and put a hold on my account until I hear from you. I will look forward to using your services in the near future. Sincerely,
Bill McGregor
December 17th, 2009 23:26
Всем Доброго утра! Вот это меня улыбнуло!!!!
January 25th, 2010 17:11
To Kahek:
A good day to you also. I am pleased my blog made you smile.
A friend of mine translated what you wrote. Are you a student in the Russian language?
John Castagno
January 26th, 2010 20:46
Hello John,
I love your website. Welldone.
I have gone through every single Reverse Lookup signature and I haven’t been able to match the signature that I’m looking for.
Here is the challenge:
The Vatican commissioned an artist to paint a large portrait of Pope John Paul II on the engine cowling of the Bell Helicopter that he used to tour the region. The engine cowling, which measures approximately 3.5ft x 2ft was replaced (to preserve the portrait) at a cost of approximately $30,000 to the current owner back in 1988.
Pope John Paul II did the Central American tour in the helicopter in March 1983. The controversial tour included Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize and Panama.
We would be very interested to find-out the name and background information of the artist that was commissioned by the Vatican to complete the work. (Maybe it was an Italian, maybe a central American artist?) The Vatican paid $4.5 million for the helicopter, so it is unlikely they commissioned an ‘unknown’ artist.
The owner of the portrait is now interested in auctioning the portrait for charity (Cancer Research UK)…but unless we can establish the artist we will not be able to maximize the value.
I would be happy to email you a copy of the signature. Please let me know if you can help identify the artist.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards,
Marcus
January 27th, 2010 23:52
Marcus:
The auctioning of the painting is a worthy cause.
I will gladly try to identify the artist through his signature.
Make sure you email me an exact sample.
I’m glad you like the site….we’re working towards cleaning up
some of the gliches.
My email: johncastagno@me.com
John
February 15th, 2010 15:47
Natalie:
Thanks for the blog letter. Where did all those years go? Life
passes so quickly, and precious contacts dwindle. I do not have
your e-mail address to forward to Francine. She plans to send
me some family information….I’ll keep you posted. We have a
lot of cousins in the Wilmington area from my father’s sister….
contacts with them have almost stopped. I keep in touch with
my family in Italy, and have visited them several times. I may go
there in June for one of my cousin’s wedding.
Love, Uncle John
February 26th, 2010 16:43
First of all you should pay better attention to the English language.
February 27th, 2010 10:56
To WM (Wendy?)
Are all your thoughts negative? It wold be really nice to
hear something pleasant
AND POSITIVE.
John Castagno
March 8th, 2010 06:14
Jurgen:
Thanks for your comment on my blog. Just knowing that
someone reads about my experiences and enjoys it gives
me a lot of satisfaction.
Stay well….be happy….and always see the sun on a rainy day.
John Castagno
March 29th, 2010 00:36
Dear Mr. Castagno,
I just discovered your site and had to write and thank you for the incredible amount of time and effort you put into this research. Amazing. It is a gift from God to be able to do what you love and help others at the same time. Thank you also for sharing so candidly about your life. I am so very sorry for the terrible losses you experienced…but happy to read of your success.
You seem to be a kind and caring man, and one who perseveres–and that makes all the difference–getting up no matter how many times you are knocked down. As an author and professional researcher, I know this quality is so important to success.
I am looking forward to exploring your site–have to try and figure out a signature. :)
God bless,
Jill
March 29th, 2010 13:27
Jill:
Thank you for your kind and expressive reaction to my life
and work. If you ever have an illegible signature that you
can not decipher I would be most happy to give it a try
for you. Just email me a copy of the signature:
johncastagno@me.com
or send it to:1142 Snyder Ave.,Phila., PA 19148
regards
John Castagno
March 31st, 2010 19:53
Mr. Castagno,
Thank you so much for your very kind reply and offer. I sent an email to the above address.
Take care,
Jill
April 1st, 2010 09:36
Jill:Your email never came through. Try again.
John
April 9th, 2010 12:31
I was just browsing for related blog posts for my project research and I happened to discover yours. Thanks for the excellent information!
April 15th, 2010 12:00
Jewish Artist/International:
I finished this unique and special book on Jewish Artists. My
publisher plans to have it in print this summer. It incudes spelled out biographical information, signature examples,
and categories for discovering who an artist may be who signs
his work with a monogram or any other indiscernible signature.
Many of the artists are Jews that fled the Nazis during WWII, and migrated to Israel, UK, and the USA. About half of the listed artists are American Jews. I’m very pleased to have been able to compile this book in a comprehensive manner.
This is my 17th publication.
John Castagno
May 3rd, 2010 08:43
Nice Information.. Thx for sharing this
information
May 3rd, 2010 09:08
Brilliant post, nicely done. And thanks for mentioning all that info - you have introduced to me to three new blogs and I love them all! Cheers :)
May 13th, 2010 22:45
John,
I have a painting that is signed by a Jewish/Italian artist. I wrote to you about it last year, but you must have been busy! Can you tell me if the book (the artist lived at the turn of the 20th century and died early) has any information on Jewish/Italian painters whose art may have been stolen? The signature is clear and I have some pictures of the sig and the color of the background, but so far I can’t confirm the signature.
When will the book be out? If you have further information about the book’s publication date and if my time and requirement of Jewish/Italian fits any of the artists covered in the book, please let me know.
Genuinely in awe of your work and knowledge. Thanks for all you do to help people discover the truth about art and artists.
May 21st, 2010 17:08
Vicki Satta
Without scanning my manuscript or my memory I do not think
my book has many Jewish/Italian artists. My publisher plans to have my Jewish Artists book in print by September. If you tell me who your artist is I can tell you if he is included in my book.
Thank you for your kind comments on my work…..it really is my
labor of love…..my legacy to the art world.
Stay well, and always see the sun on a rainy day,
John Castagno
May 21st, 2010 23:52
Thanks for your response. What a special, special person you are.
The artist is Amedeo Modigliani. I read somewhere that you were the person behind a showing of his work in NY. Is that true? I am no art historian or appraiser but I can’t believe it’s real, although another framed piece of art (an old Swiss map) was with it as I dug through the box they were in.
The map appears to be very old and likely has no value, but there was a handwritten message on the back of the map frame, but I couldn’t capture it with my camera because the complete back side of the map is wooden and the message was written in either red or black (in English). They are both in storage for safekeeping right now so I can’t go and look at the exact message, but it’s probably not important anyway unless it’s a clue to where it may have come from.
I’ve also searched some of databases that describe missing art that was stolen from the Jews by the Nazis, but I didn’t find any mention of anything that sounds like what I have.
One more thing: I heard from someone last year that his work is very difficult to authenticate. Is that true? Can I tell, or can you tell by comparing a photo of the signature with the signature on your site, or does it have to be tested somehow?
Thanks for the response.
Vicki
May 22nd, 2010 18:14
Vicki:
Modigliani is in my Jewish artists book. You should call Sotheby’s and also Christie’s in New York and ask them if there is an expert on Modigliani to contact…if no luck then call their
offices in London.
Don,t sell your map short….old maps sometimes bring handsome prices at auction…..again, contact sotheby’s & Christie’s special departments that deal in maps.
Good luck with your adventures…..let me know how they work out.
regards,
John Castagno
May 23rd, 2010 08:59
Vicki:
I forgot to answer your question whether I was behind the show of work by Modigliani in NY…….NO I was not .
John Castagno
May 25th, 2010 09:23
John
Thank you, thank you! :-) I’ll get on it today. I will definitely keep you informed and will continue to “hang out” here to see what is happening in your very exciting world of art and talk about it.
Cheers and thanks!
May 27th, 2010 13:23
I WANT:
I want to go all around the world
I want to help everything that’s green
I want to smile at every different face
I want to help others find their dream
I want to see a clearer moon
I want to see a brighter sun
I want to smell a green rich forest
When all the acid rain is done
I want the fish to all swim back
To unpolluted brooks and streams
I want our world to be the world
We all know in our dreams
Each little voice added to millions
Can sound like thunder in the skies
So let’s all yell together and
Rout out those big bad guys.
John Castagno
June 6th, 2010 10:21
NO ACCIDENT:
One author on the evolution of man calls it an ‘accident’. I think it is the wrong discription. Accepting mankind as an accident in evolution would then make everything in evolution an accident. Evolution is evolution….who decides what is an accident??? ……How?, and why?, based on what evidence?
Today’s age is too rampant with people saying anything they please…..factual or not…..(especially NOT).
John Castagno
June 11th, 2010 19:45
Dear John,
Your mini bio and blog is apart of an enjoyable journey. My mother-in-law gave me a captivating painting and I’m hoping to find out about the artist. The signature is a mystery that has time on it’s side… for we love it enough to have it cleaned and properly framed. I’ll be signing up to search through your website…even though I can’t make out the letters in the signature…wish me luck.
Best Regards,
Cheryl Green
June 11th, 2010 21:53
Cheryl Green:
After you have gone through my website…..if you are unsuccessful in discovering who the artist is I would like
to help you. If you can make an exact copy of the signature
and fax it to me I may be able to decipher it. My fax is:
215 - 389 - 4015.
Regards,
John Castagno
June 13th, 2010 22:27
Hi John,
Thank you for your kind offer of help.
Hope the fax arrived clearly…if you have any thoughts I’d truly be grateful. The local art gallery gave me a contact in Denver for having the painting restored…I’m thinking of making a frame for it. There’s an adult woods class that has been a lot of fun and perhaps this will be the next project…(class starts back up in Sept)
Best Regards,
Cheryl
June 14th, 2010 13:28
Cheryl:
Your fax arrived, but everything was much too black to see anything of the signature. My advice: Try to make an EXACT hand made facsimile of the signature on a white paper and fax it to me.
Regards,
John Castagno
June 15th, 2010 18:00
My little girl cat MIMI:
After fifteen years of mutually sharing affections, and also with
Chris, my little MIMI passed away. Such a sorrow, such a loss, I loved her completely.
John Castagno
June 16th, 2010 12:22
My condolences, pets hold so much love in our hearts it hurts…very sorry. I always like to think we’ll get the joy of seeing them again.
Sincerely,
Cheryl
June 17th, 2010 04:16
Hello, I also like the Toy Story movies, super movie!
July 6th, 2010 11:37
Dear Mr. Castagno,
I believe you may be my only hope. Please know that I am not an artist, I’m not a collector, I’m not a fan (no offense meant please), and I’m not a long lost relative. I’m just a girl in New Hampshire who is at her wits end. I can only hope you will have mercy on me. I’m certain you have been asked hundreds of times for assistances in indentifying a Hudson River School artists signature. Might I ask again? I have an elderly aunt (97), an artist herself, who gave me a Hudson River School painting. I didn’t know one thing about fine art. A year and a half later, I’ve leanred everything I can about the Hudson River School artists, their signatures, monograms, styles, etc. I have been told by many experts that they can not identify my painting’s monogram. Sotheby’s can not identify it either. Do you think that you could? I can’t rest until I know who it is. I’m very sorry to hear about your cat Mimi. I understand that loss completely. I have 5 cats….Daisy Belle, Bailey Blue, Gatsby, Isabo, and Maxwell. Thank you sir, and if you could help, how do I proceed?
Warmest regards,
Rosemary
July 6th, 2010 12:00
Dear Mr. Castagno,
I should have mentioned that I have carefully looked through all of the monograms on your website, to no avail. It appears to be an NB.
Thank you again if you can assist.
Rosemary Argue
July 20th, 2010 05:21
80 years ago:
Yesterday was my 80th birthday.
Many thanks, much love and appreciation to all that remembered me….what a blessing to have such friends.
John Castagno
July 22nd, 2010 20:48
Just found your site. I love art, too. I find your life story inspiring and am deeply moved by your descriptions of your mother and father. Your parents did a good job.
Happy 80th birthday!!
July 23rd, 2010 00:09
Michele Condon:
Thank you for your kind words. I took the last few months away from writing my books and have been painting……if you want to see what my new work looks like send me your email address & I will email you pictures of the new works since you said you love art too.
regards,
John Castagno
August 4th, 2010 21:27
Unessasary silence
What I think is an extremely bad manner procedure practiced
today is “SILENCE”……when a question is posed for an answer…..
it is given no recognition…..JUST SILENCE……when the receiver of the question does not want to deal with it. SUCH BAD MANNERS….SUCH IGNORANCE…….A sad commentary on today’s attitude.
John Castagno
August 10th, 2010 08:27
Patricia Neal 1926-2010
I am saddened by the news of the passing of Patricia Neal.
I befriended her on Martha’s Vineyard in the late 1990s.
She kindly sent me a photograph of herself addressed to me and signed. She was a sweet and kind individual, a wonderful
actress, a warm human being. Her photograph is in my studio
…..I see it often as a wonderful reminder of her. She has left behind a legacy of many motion pictures.
John Castagno
August 12th, 2010 18:04
Dear John
I am a decendent of Benjamin Primavera his father was Michele, his father was Francesco who sister was Grazia who married a Castagno and had a son named John who lived at 85jamison st lacey park hatboro pennsylvania
are you related to that John Castagno?
Thank you for your time
and I was extremely amazed by your life story and saddened by all the dismay in your early life.
August 12th, 2010 19:46
Dear Edi Ptimavera:
I do not think I am related to your John Castagno…..But there
seems to be some curious similarities of our families. TO BEGIN WITH; I have no
knowledge where in Calbria my mother came from….her name
was Maria Grazia….she was probably orphaned young because she was raised my the Suppa family in Philadelphia. Her maiden name was Leone; her first marriage name was Vitale,
2nd marriage name Castagno. My Castagno family in Italy lives
in Giffoni Valle Piana in the provence of Salerno. I never lived in Hatboro….(did you mean that John Castagno lived in Hatboro??) Did the Primavera family originate from Calabria;
did John Castagno’s family originate from the provence of Salerno?
Thank you for reading my life’s story and for your kind words.
John Castagno
August 16th, 2010 11:31
Thank you for taking the time to respond…
No the Primavera line is from Ortona Italy,Abruzzo then migrated to Potenza and to America Colorado.
My fathers mothers line is from Calabria San Cosmo. The Minisci and Lamirato lines.
The Grazia I have in my family married Castagno in Italy and then moved to Hatboro Penn. I am sure some where in their there is a relative :)
Edi
September 1st, 2010 13:52
Dear Mr. Castagno,
I’m not an artist or collector but I do have an appreciation for the arts and have accumulated a number of prints, one being your ‘71 “Stripes and Stars” with an inscription to Barbara S. I was excited when I searched your name to come across your blog. I know you are very busy but I thought you might be able to tell me a little bit more about this print.
September 3rd, 2010 22:39
Jessie:
The details about that print is kind of lengthy. I am extremely busy for the next 7 days but I will get back to you after that.
John Castagno