Biography of Florian
Alexander Durzynski
Florian Alexander Durzynski was born in Germany on
March 2, 1902. His social security number was 354-09-1618, issued in Illinois.
According to his death certificate, he was found dead at 10:05 pm on July
21, 1969 in his residence at 2663 ½ E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena,
CA. He had never been married. His last occupation was that of artist at
which he had worked 40 years. He had been a resident of California for
20 years. Cause of death was arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. There
was no autopsy. He was 67 years of age at time of death. He was buried
on July 25, 1969 in Resurrection Cemetery. (ref.: County of Los Angeles
death certificate)
His work includes:
- The three murals, "American Youth," funded
by the FAP, are located in the Daniel Wentworth Elementary School, 6950
S. Sangamon St., Chicago, IL on the fourth floor. They originally were
in the Library which was turned into a storage room. These oil on canvas
murals were restored and relocated in the school after restoration. They
measure 7'10" x 8'3", 7'9" x 8'3-1/2", and 10' x 5'9".
They were originally installed in 1937. They were restored by the Chicago
Conservation Center, 1999. Ref: Federal Art Project in Illinois, Guide
to Chicago Murals, Chicago Conservation Center, A Guide to Chicago's Murals
- Mary Lackritz Gray.
- There are two large oil on canvas murals in the Frederic
Chopin School, 2440 W. Rice St., Chicago, IL auditorium done by Florian
Durzynski. One is entitled "Steven Foster" (86' x 5'). The second
mural is "Chopin" (86' x 5'). These murals were also restored
by the Chicago Conservation Center. Ref: Federal Art Project in Illinois,
Guide to Chicago Murals, Chicago Conservation Center, A Guide to Chicago's
Murals - Mary Lackritz Gray.
- John Harvard School, 7525 S. Harvard Ave, Chicago,
IL houses two Durzynski murals in their assembly hall. "Harvesting
of Grain" and "Spring and Fall" both measure 9' x 12'6"
and are oil on canvas, installed in 1939. Ref: Federal Art Project in Illinois,
Guide to Chicago Murals.
- In the entrance lobby at Laughlin Falconer School,3020
N. Lamon, Chicago, IL is an oil on canvas Durzynski mural entiteld "Landscape
with Children". It measures11'5" x 11'2" and was installed
in 1940. Ref: Federal Art Project in Illinois and Guide to Chicago Murals.
- On the stage wall at the Newton Bateman School, 4220
N. Richmond, Chicago, IL is"Decorative Landscape" by Florian
Durzynski. It is an oil on muslin glued to the wall mural, 12' x 30', installed
in 1940. Ref: Federal Art Project in Illinois, Guide to Chicago Murals,
A Guide to Chicago's Murals - Mary Lackritz Gray.
- Durzynski's two panels entitled "Westward Movement"
at the Greenman School, 729 W Galena, West Aurora, IL, both measure 4'
x 22'8". They are oil on canvas and were installed in 1936. (ref:
Federal Art Project in Illinois).
The following are photos donated by the owner of a
Beverly Hills, CA home whose walls were decorated with original Florian
Durzynski murals:
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