Vincent Maragliotti Murals
The Victory Theatre Murals (1942) - Approx. 10ft wide x 21ft tall, painted by Vincent Maragliotti of Maragliotti Studios, Grand Central Terminal Building, NYC.
"The murals are the work of the noted New York artist, Vincent Maragliotti, who supervised the decorative treatment of the Victory Theatre’s interior after the January 26, 1942 fire. Maragliotti explained that the descriptive representation of the murals is purely symbolic:
The panel on the left
"Depicts war and was inspired by the biblical story of Lucifer, cast out of heaven, venting his vengeance and evil upon mankind. It suggests that the horrible turmoil of the present-day throughout the world marks the approach of the climax, which can result only in either complete victory or complete defeat. Mars, the symbol of war, directs with sword in hand, employing his destructive agents of hate and insinuation. A crouching old figure represents the force that incites discord. The planet Mars, abode of its symbolized king, resembles an erupting volcano. The gigantic picture illustrates the doom that will be his unless he experiences a spiritual awakening.
The panel on the right
"Represents Victory. Man has broken his bonds and has been made free by the spirit of Justice. Lucifer is banished into oblivion. Peace has brought her blessings and Liberty once more reigns. The blessings of Liberty, Peace, and Justice are again bestowed upon humanity." –Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, Aug. 13, 1941.
The murals will be restored and re-installed by EverGreene Architectural Arts.
Vincent Maragliotti
Born in Italy and emigrated to the U.S. at age seventeen, Vincent Maragliotti studied at the National Academy of Design, NY, and the Cooper Union Art College in NY.
Part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA)/ Federal Art Project (FAP) under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, Maragliotti’s first commission was of the main entrance lobby of the Pennsylvania Education Building, which he completed in 1934.
Other works
Theaters
Roxy Theater, NY
Majestic, NY
Shubert, NY
Strand, NY
Hotels
Waldorf‐Astoria, NY
Biltmore, NY
Sherry-Netherland, NY
The Lexington, NY
Copley Plaza Hotel, MA
Murals and Artwork
Finance Building, PA
The State Museum of Pennsylvania/William Penn Memorial Building, PA
St. Martin of Tours Church, NY
Stock Exchange Luncheon Club, NY
Jesse Jones Gulf Building, Houston, TX
State capitols of Texas and Washington.
In 2010 MIFA was awarded a grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors to safely take down the Maragliotti murals for preservation and storage.
The MIFA Victory Theatre Mural Restoration Project is being funded in part by the Citizens of Holyoke, MA through the Community Preservation Act
