NEW YORK — Antonio Cirino (1888-1983) is best known for his lush and jewel-toned landscapes, particularly of the Cape Ann/Rockport, Massachusetts coastline. Emigrating from Italy as a toddler, he grew up in the Italian American section of Providence, R.I., and first set foot in Rockport in the 1920s. He then regularly summered here while spending winters in Providence. This was during the height of the Progressive Era when artists began flocking to idyllic and scenic places throughout the Northeast to paint. Artist colonies were established in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Long Island, Cape Cod and the Catskills to name a few. The Cape Ann and Rockport/Gloucester areas were particularly appealing to artists and many flocked here.
