Victor Bruno Contini

1916 - 1944

Victor Bruno Contini was the fourth of five children born to Eduardo and Emmanuela Contini in Castellucio Valmaggiore, a picturesque mountain town in central Italy where the children romped in the hills and played in the shadows of an old Norman tower that belonged to the family. Victor began drawing in those days, but he was not to remain in Italy. His father, a volunteer soldier in World War I, emigrated to the United States in 1921. The rest of the family followed in 1928 and settled in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

Victor was fascinated with his new home and painted scenery whenever he could. After high school, he took a job as a mechanic, but was soon awarded a scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Art. He attended for a few months before be was drafted to serve in World War II. His captain noticed his talent and arranged for the home front to send what art materials they could.

His letters form an important part of this exhibit. They reveal a man who saw himself as a player in a world effort to preserve freedom, who cared about the folks at home, who had a way of approaching life from the lighter side, and who saw art as a marvelous endeavor which he fully intended to pursue all his life.

Victor's attitude was one of wonder, enthusiasm, and belief in the task at hand. Although he was killed on Saipan in 1944, his art has graced the walls of family and friends for many years. 

His Work

Most of Victor's known work is water color. One ceramic piece and one block print remain. A few paintings are oil and a few are watercolor with pen and ink.

Victor's known work can be divided into three periods:

• His prewar work, some in Italy but most of the Ohio Countryside and downtown Cleveland in the late 1930's.

• His Texas period which was mostly of Fort Wolters Army barracks where he was stationed in 1941.

• His Hawaii period which is mostly of Hawaii seascapes. He was stationed in Hawaii right before being sent into combat.

The paintings of PFC Victor Contini are reproduced below with the permission of the Contini family. They are part of an exhibit entitled "Dreams of a Fallen Soldier" that will open on November 11, 2009, at the General Patton Memorial Museum in Chiriaco Summit in California. Additional information about visiting this exhibit can be found at www.generalpattonmuseum.com or by calling (760) 227-3483

PFC Victor Bruno Contini, 105th Infantry, Artist and Soldier, 1916-1944

The soldier and artist: Victor Contini was an Italian immigrant who came to the United States as a young boy in 1928. His letters home while in the Army reveal his wonder at the beauty of his new land, his enthusiasm for his art, and his dedication to the world effort to preserve freedom.

His art then and now: He loved art and intended to keep at it all his life. Although killed on Saipan in 1944, his art has graced the walls of family and friends for many years. The 15 paintings made into cards sample some of his 38 known works from three periods:
• Pre-war - Ohio Countryside and downtown Cleveland in the late 1930's (10 known);
• Texas - Mostly Fort Wolters Army Barracks where he was stationed in 1941 (8 known);
• Hawaii - Waterfalls, seascapes, beaches, some barracks (20 known). He was stationed in Hawaii right before being sent into combat.

Additional Work: Victor refers to additional work in his letters, some portraits, which indicates he sent some to people who had sent him art materials and that he may have given some to Army buddies. (If you know of additional paintings, please notify the Patton Museum.)

Exhibits: His work was exhibited at the Arts Council Center in Thousand Oaks, CA 1989 and again at the General Patton Memorial Museum in 2009 focusing on his barracks paintings. The proceeds from these cards go to the General Patton Memorial Museum.

Painting copyrighted by members of the Contini Family