Lauretano - Michael

Lauretano, Michael (1915-2008)

Michael Anthony Lauretano was born August 28, 1915 in Thomaston, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale University in 1938 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and began his work for the WPA Federal Arts Project on August 4, 1938 restoring colonial designs and painting murals in historic buildings throughout Connecticut and New York. Most of his work under the WPA was done for the Index of American Art, and one of his plates for the Index appears in the 1950 book The Index of American Design. He completed a total of 13 plates for the Index. Laurentano also painted a design for the seal of the City of Middletown, Connecticut, that hung directly over the mayor’s desk in the Council Chamber of the City Hall. His WPA artwork is represented in the National Gallery of Art collection. His career as a graphic artist continued until his 85th year. In June of 1939, he married Mafalda (May) Giacomelli and had two children, Michael and Barbara. He died on February 20, 2008 at the age of 92. 

Sources: WPA Artist’s Work Card; WPA Federal Arts Project Newsletter, August 1938; Erwin O. Christensen, The Index of American Design (1950), pp. 185, 207; Obituary, Toronto Star, February 24, 2008; Laura Dauphine.

Works of Art Listed in CT Archives’ database from Michael Lauretano:

Lauretano, Michael