“Michele Falanga was born in Torre del Greco, Naples, Italy on July 5, 1867. He studied first with artist Michele Tedesco, then at the Istituto di Belle Arti in Naples with Stanislao Lista, Domenico Morelli and Filippo Palizzi. Tedesco (1834-1917) was a student of Morelli.” (1)
“Falanga continued his studies in Rome. He married Virginia Ciavolino in 1898. In 1901 Falanga was a passenger aboard the S.S. Trojan Prince, bound for the United States; he arrived in New York on August 25. His wife followed in 1902. Between the years 1904 and 1907 the couple had three children, two daughters and a son. In 1915 Falanga was a self-employed artist who had a room at 335 Broadway in Lower Manhattan. He lived at 143 Summit Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. In 1917 his office was located at 45 John Street. From the mid- to late teens Falanga's paintings could be purchased at the Abraham and Strauss department store in Brooklyn.” (2)
“In 1923 the Leonardo da Vinci Art School opened at 288 East 10th Street in Manhattan. General Director Onorio Ruotolo, a sculptor, said ‘the purpose of the school was to teach young craftsmen to become artists.’ Falanga was in charge of drawing and painting; the courses included sculpture, interior decoration, architecture, geometry, woodcutting, cabinet-making, wrought-iron, fashion designing, fashion-plate drawing, electricity, embroidery design, history of art, and anatomy.” (1)
“That same year he opened a branch of the school in Brooklyn. The art school had its own magazine, Leonardo, Annual Magazine of the Leonardo da Vinci Art School. The 1924–1925 issue included reproductions of Falanga’s paintings and sketches. In 1927 Falanga became a United States citizen. The following year he exhibited in a group show of Italian sculpture and paintings at the Bowery Savings Bank, in Manhattan’s Little Italy neighborhood.” (2)
“According to the 1930 Census the “Alfred Farzzetta” family of three lived at 1203 Avenue Y in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The distance from their home to the academy was about eight-and-a-half miles. Falanga was impressed by Frazetta’s talent and, years later, made preparations for him to study in Italy. Unfortunately Falanga’s death ended that plan; he died February 1, 1942, at his home, 383 Clinton Street, Brooklyn. Falanga was survived by his wife and three children.” (1)
“Many of his paintings hang in Brooklyn homes and in cities throughout the country.” (3)
Reference
1. Askart Staff. Michele Falanga [internet]. [cited 2020 Jan 2]. Available from: https://www.askart.com/artist_bio/Michele_Falanga/75017/Michele_Falanga.aspx
2. Jay, A. Creator: Michele Falanga [internet]. Alphabet Tenth Letter; 2012 Feb 1 [cited 2020 Jan 2]. Available from: http://alphabettenthletter.blogspot.com/2012/02/creator-michele-falanga.html
3. Brooklyn Times Union Staff. Bror Artist’s Work Lauded by Critics [internet]. Brooklyn, New York: Brooklyn Times Union; 1935 Mar 3 [cited 2020 Jan 2]. Available from: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37637221/michele_falanga_art_exhibit/