Dorothy Wagner Puccinelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorothy W. Puccinelli
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Dorothy Wagner
December 19, 1901 San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | May 24, 1974 (aged 72) Berkeley, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Dorothy Puccinelli Cravath |
| Alma mater | California School of Fine Arts, Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design |
| Years active | 1919–c.1940 |
| Style | WPA-era murals and paintings |
| Spouse(s) | Raymond Puccinelli Austin Cravath |
| Children | 1 |
Dorothy Wagner Puccinelli, also known as Dorothy Puccinelli Cravath (December 19, 1901 – May 24, 1974), was an American artist. She was known for creating large paintings called murals. Dorothy worked during a time in U.S. history called the New Deal era. This was when the government helped people find jobs, including artists. She lived and worked in San Francisco, California.
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About Dorothy Puccinelli
Early Life and Education
Dorothy Wagner was born on December 19, 1901, in San Antonio, Texas. When she was five years old, her family moved to Half Moon Bay, California.
In 1919, Dorothy began studying art. She went to the California School of Fine Arts. Later, in 1925, she continued her studies at the Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design in San Francisco. There, she learned from a famous sculptor named Beniamino Bufano.
Dorothy was married twice. Her first marriage was to artist Raymond Puccinelli. Later, she married Austin Cravath in 1941. They had a daughter named Anne.
Art for the Community
Dorothy Puccinelli was part of government programs that helped artists during the New Deal era. These programs, like the Federal Art Project (FAP) and Works Progress Administration (WPA), paid artists to create public art. This helped people find work and also brought art to communities.
The Vacheros Mural
In 1937, Dorothy created a large painting called Vacheros. It was painted on canvas using tempera paints. The mural was 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide. You can find it in the post office in Merced, California. This artwork was paid for by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts, another government art program.
Animals at the San Francisco Zoo
In 1939, Dorothy worked with another artist, Helen Katharine Forbes. They painted four murals inside the Mother's Building at the San Francisco Zoo. These murals show a Noah's Ark theme, with many different animals. The paintings were funded by the Federal Art Project and the Works Progress Administration.
For many years, from 1978 to 2002, the Mother's Building was used as a gift shop. Today, the murals need to be cleaned and fixed. The room is now mostly used for special events.
Restoring Artworks
Dorothy Puccinelli also helped to fix and preserve other artworks. In 1960 and 1975, she worked with artist Emmy Lou Packard. They helped restore murals, including some at the famous Coit Tower in San Francisco.
