Donatus Buongiorno painted monks and priests many times, in a variety of situations. His sister’s brother-in-law, Carmine Troisi, was a priest in Solofra, Avellino, whom he knew well, we can assume from their multiple collaborations on artwork restorations within their church, La Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo. Buongiorno must have known also known priests in the U.S. from his church commissions in several cities.
A Little Mischief
Date unknown
Oil on canvas
20 X 24 in.
Whereabouts unknown
Photograph courtesy of Sloans and Kenyon. Used with permission.
Date unknown
Oil on canvas
20 x 24 in.
Whereabouts unknown
The Public’s Reader
Circa 1900
Oil on canvas
12 x 10-1/4 in.
Collection of Janice Carapellucci
Is this priest Carmine Troisi? (See story below.)
Courtesy of Doyle New York. Used with permission.
Date unknown
Oil on canvas
24 x 16 in.
Whereabouts unknown
Who is the Cardinal?
Photograph courtesy of Time and Again Galleries. Used with permission.
date unknown
20-1/4 x 26-1/2 in.
Whereabouts unknown
Note that the third and fourth men from the left are Franciscan friars.
Do you know any of these priests?
From his church commissions, Donatus Buongiorno knew priests in Boston, Brattleboro, Vermont, and New York.
He also, apparently, knew at least one Cardinal, from the painting above.
And his sister’s brother-in-law (who was, perhaps, also a childhood friend of his) was the head priest of his family’s church in Solofra, Avellino — Canonico Carmine Troisi of La Collegiata di San Michele. Is this priest, the “Public Reader” in a red biretta who is reading a letter to two other people, Carmine Troisi?
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