Lanzini & SonsSince 1927

Our family history · Founded in 1927

About Lanzini & Sons

Catholic liturgical art · Sacred interiors · Restoration

Angelo Lanzini painting a mural at Treasure Island in the late 1930s.
Family records identify Angelo Lanzini working on a mural for a Bank of America exposition display at Treasure Island, late 1930s.

Angelo Lanzini founded Lanzini & Sons in 1927. His grandson Jeffrey now runs the company and performs most of the work. Jeffrey’s father Brian, the previous owner, is retired. Angelo died in 1998.

Angelo’s early work

Angelo came from Venice to New York in 1927 after artistic training and early church-decoration work in Italy. In New York, he worked in decorative painting for churches and theaters. Family records describe Angelo painting murals for a Bank of America exposition display at Treasure Island in the late 1930s.

During World War II, Angelo served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a topographical map maker. He returned to painting and design after military service.

Church design and a growing family practice

Angelo’s work extended from painting to the design of churches and their interiors. Our Lady of Refuge in Castroville is part of that history: he designed the church and painted St. Cecilia above the narthex. The family’s original work there in the early 1960s also included pews, marble and stained glass, with a mosaic on the exterior.

The family history records that Angelo’s sons joined the work after college in the 1970s. Statuary, stained glass, mosaics, bronze and restoration became part of the family’s church work alongside painting and design.

Returning to an earlier work

In 2018, Our Lady of Refuge asked us to restore its vandalized St. Cecilia painting without knowing the family connection. We removed bright-orange graffiti, selectively repaired the painting with oils, cleaned it and applied a new varnish coat. Read about the Castroville restoration.

The family’s work also includes a custom tabernacle setting at Saint Columban and the new bronze Mary sculpture at Holy Spirit in San Jose.

The work today

Jeffrey continues the company’s work in custom sacred art and restoration from California. New statue commissions and other custom pieces are a priority, with church-interior renovation, painting, mosaics and stained glass also available. Churches and institutions are our principal clients; private commissions are welcome.

Explore our services, see project photographs or tell us about a project.

From the family archive

The work behind the history

Studio photographs and project lists trace the family’s painting, sculpture and church-interior work.

Family archive studio portrait of a person beside a work in progress.
Lanzini family archive studio portrait.
Family archive image of an artist working on a Last Supper relief.
Family archive image of an artist working on a Last Supper relief.

An archive in four periods

Project-list excerpts, 1922–1984

Public project-list excerpt from the family-archive résumé sheet covering 1922–1945.
1922–1945
Read text transcription, 1922–1945

Transcription of the visible family-archive excerpt. Names, dates and wording are retained as recorded; these historical entries have not been independently verified.

  1. Project: Art Academy of Venice. Date: 1922-27. Location: Venice, Italy. Work completed: Studied Art & Architecture.
  2. Project: St. Hillary (Catholic). Date: 1923. Location: Pordenone, Italy. Work completed: Total Decoration & Small Murals.
  3. Project: St. Jerome (Catholic). Date: 1925. Location: Roveredo, Italy. Work completed: Total Decoration & Small Murals.
  4. Project: St. Ursula (Catholic). Date: 1929. Location: Mt. Vernon, NY. Work completed: 14’x18′ Mural & Redecoration.
  5. Project: West Point Academy. Date: 1932. Location: West Point, NY. Work completed: Mess Hall Decoration.
  6. Project: St. Theresa (Catholic). Date: 1932. Location: Bronx, NY. Work completed: Total Decoration & 3 Murals 8’x10′.
  7. Project: Fox Theater. Date: 1933. Location: San Francisco, CA. Work completed: Total Interior Decoration.
  8. Project: DAR Club. Date: 1933. Location: Washington, DC. Work completed: 48 State Seals – 4′ Diameter.
  9. Project: Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Date: 1933. Location: New York, NY. Work completed: Total Interior Decoration.
  10. Project: Capitol Building-Penn. Date: 1933. Location: Harrisburg, PA. Work completed: Partial Interior Design & Decoration.
  11. Project: St. Francis of Asissi (Catholic). Date: 1933. Location: Manhatten, NY. Work completed: Total Decoration & Statues.
  12. Project: St. Rosalie (Catholic). Date: 1933. Location: Brooklyn, NY. Work completed: Total Decoration & 10’x18′ Maral “Life of St. Rosalie”.
  13. Project: Holy Rosary (Catholic). Date: 1934. Location: Baltimore, MD. Work completed: 3 Murals 14’x18′ & Total Decoration.
  14. Project: St. John’s (Catholic). Date: 1934. Location: Ossining, NY. Work completed: Total Decoration & Murals.
  15. Project: St. Dominic (Catholic). Date: 1935. Location: Bronx, NY. Work completed: 3 Murals 28’x8′.
  16. Project: Central Methodist Church of Detroit. Date: 1936-37. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Reredos – 45’x14′ Mural “12 Apostles”.
  17. Project: St. John’s Episcopal. Date: 1937-38. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Sanctuary Decoration.
  18. Project: Theater by Architect Albert Dow. Date: 1938-39. Location: Midland, MI. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  19. Project: Bank of America Treasure Island Exposition. Date: 1938. Location: Treasure Island, CA. Work completed: 4 Historical Murals 8’x12′ Each.
  20. Project: Theater. Date: 1938. Location: Wyndotte, MI. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  21. Project: Theater. Date: 1939. Location: Ypslanti, MI. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  22. Project: St. Annes (Catholic). Date: 1940. Location: Baltimore, MD. Work completed: 4 Murals 8’x12′ & Total Decoration.
  23. Project: Fox Theater. Date: 1945. Location: Burlingame, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
Public project-list excerpt from the family-archive résumé sheet covering 1945–1961.
1945–1961
Read text transcription, 1945–1961

Transcription of the visible family-archive excerpt. Names, dates and wording are retained as recorded; these historical entries have not been independently verified.

  1. Project: Theater. Date: 1945. Location: Klamath Falls, OR. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  2. Project: Fox Theater-Stockton. Date: 1946. Location: Stockton, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  3. Project: Fox Theater. Date: 1946. Location: Redwood City, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  4. Project: Fox Theater. Date: 1946. Location: San Mateo, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  5. Project: Fox Theater. Date: 1946. Location: Oakland, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  6. Project: Varsity Theater. Date: 1946. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  7. Project: Warfield Theater. Date: 1946. Location: San Francisco, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  8. Project: Theater (Market Street). Date: 1947. Location: San Francisco, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  9. Project: Theater (Market Street). Date: 1947. Location: San Francisco, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  10. Project: Mapes Hotel. Date: 1947. Location: Reno, NV. Work completed: Historical Mural 60’x8′.
  11. Project: Trium Building. Date: 1948. Location: Reno, NV. Work completed: Historical Mural 12’x6′.
  12. Project: Anniston Library. Date: 1949. Location: Anniston, AL. Work completed: 18’x12′ Mural “Industry of Alabama”.
  13. Project: Fireman’s Fund Insurance Building. Date: 1949. Location: San Francisco, CA. Work completed: 3 Murals 30’x8′ Each.
  14. Project: St. Anthony’s (Catholic). Date: 1953. Location: Washington, DC. Work completed: 12 Murals 10’x12′ Each.
  15. Project: Holy Family. Date: 1957. Location: San Jose, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  16. Project: St. Lawrence O’Tool (Catholic). Date: 1958. Location: Oakland, CA. Work completed: Reredos-Total Decoration & Marble.
  17. Project: Bebe Patton Cathedral. Date: 1958. Location: Oakland, CA. Work completed: 3 Large Mosaics.
  18. Project: St. Peter and Paul of the Shipwreck (Catholic). Date: 1958. Location: San Francisco, CA. Work completed: Marble.
  19. Project: St. Joachim. Date: 1958. Location: Patterson, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration & Marble.
  20. Project: St. Agnes Catholic Hospital. Date: 1959. Location: Fresno, CA. Work completed: “Christ the Healer” Mural 36’x12′.
  21. Project: St. Bede (Catholic). Date: 1959. Location: Hayward, CA. Work completed: Marble-Decoration Mural 8’x10′.
  22. Project: St. Simon (Catholic). Date: 1960. Location: Los Altos, CA. Work completed: Mural 14’x18′ “Crucifixion” Total Decoration.
  23. Project: St. Clara (Catholic). Date: 1960. Location: Palo Alto, CA. Work completed: Reredos-Mural 12’x18′ “Life of St. Francis of Asissi”.
  24. Project: St. Joseph’s (Catholic). Date: 1961. Location: Mountain View, CA. Work completed: Reredos-Mural 14’x18′ “Life of St. Joseph”.
Public project-list excerpt from the family-archive résumé sheet covering 1968–1973.
1968–1973
Read text transcription, 1968–1973

Transcription of the visible family-archive excerpt. Names, dates and wording are retained as recorded; these historical entries have not been independently verified.

  1. Project: St. Ignatius Chapel. Date: 1968. Location: San Francisco, CA. Work completed: 8’x5′ Panel “Our Lady of Guadalupe”.
  2. Project: St. Mary (Catholic). Date: 1968. Location: Hanford, CA. Work completed: Marble.
  3. Project: St. Mary (Catholic). Date: 1968. Location: Ridgecrest, CA. Work completed: 4 Statues (Wood).
  4. Project: Our Lady of Angels (Catholic). Date: 1969. Location: Burlingame, CA. Work completed: 2 Marble Statues.
  5. Project: St. Mary (Catholic). Date: 1970. Location: Salinas, CA. Work completed: Statues & Marble.
  6. Project: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic). Date: 1970. Location: Watsonville, CA. Work completed: Statues, Marble & Total Decoration.
  7. Project: St. Anthony’s (Catholic). Date: 1970&76. Location: Fresno, CA. Work completed: 56’x12′ Mural & 3 Panels 18’x14′.
  8. Project: St. Joseph’s (Catholic). Date: 1971. Location: Santa Cruz, CA. Work completed: Interior Marble & Statues.
  9. Project: St. Martin (Catholic). Date: 1971. Location: Sunnyvale, CA. Work completed: Reredos-Mural 12’x18′.
  10. Project: St. Joseph’s (Catholic). Date: 1971. Location: Olima, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration-Marble.
  11. Project: St. Joseph’s (Catholic). Date: 1972. Location: Boulder Creek, CA. Work completed: Statues.
  12. Project: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Catholic). Date: 1972. Location: Wyandotte, MI. Work completed: 14’x18′ Mural “Crucifixion” Total Decoration.
  13. Project: St. Mary (Catholic). Date: 1972. Location: Los Altos, CA. Work completed: Mosaic Memorial Grotto.
  14. Project: Holy Redeemer (Catholic). Date: 1973. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Total Decoration 45’x45′ Mural “Christ”.
Public project-list excerpt from the family-archive résumé sheet covering 1973–1984.
1973–1984
Read text transcription, 1973–1984

Transcription of the visible family-archive excerpt. Names, dates and wording are retained as recorded; these historical entries have not been independently verified.

  1. Project: Oakland General Hospital Chapel. Date: 1973. Location: Oakland, CA. Work completed: 14’x8′ Mosaic.
  2. Project: St. John’s Cathedral (Catholic). Date: 1974. Location: Fresno, CA. Work completed: Decoration-Statues.
  3. Project: St. John Cantius (Catholic). Date: 1975. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  4. Project: St. Joseph’s (Catholic). Date: 1976. Location: Lima, CA. Work completed: Reredos Painting.
  5. Project: St. Hedwick’s (Catholic). Date: 1976. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Marble & Decoration.
  6. Project: St. Anthony’s (Catholic). Date: 1976. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Art Work (Sanctuary).
  7. Project: Our Lady Queen of Angels (Catholic). Date: 1976. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Total Decoration-Marble.
  8. Project: St. Veronica’s (Catholic). Date: 1976. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Decoration.
  9. Project: St. Peter and Paul (Catholic). Date: 1977. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  10. Project: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Catholic). Date: 1977. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Marble Alter.
  11. Project: St. Francis of Asissi (Catholic). Date: 1977. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: 8 Murals 4’x8′ Each Decoration.
  12. Project: St. Josephat (Catholic). Date: 1978. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  13. Project: St. Zachary (Catholic). Date: 1978-79. Location: Hilmar, CA. Work completed: Marble.
  14. Project: St. Stephen’s (Catholic). Date: 1979. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Mosaic Triptic Approx. 400 Sq. Ft. “History of St. Stephen” – Decoration & Marble.
  15. Project: Our Lady Queen of the Apostles (Catholic). Date: 1980. Location: Hamtramack, MI. Work completed: Decoration.
  16. Project: St. Anne’s of Detroit (Catholic). Date: 1981. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Total Interior Restoration 28 Murals 7’x9′ Each.
  17. Project: St. Mary’s (Catholic). Date: 1981. Location: Sacramento, CA. Work completed: Total Decoration.
  18. Project: St. Cunnegunda (Catholic). Date: 1982. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Mosaic 40’x24′ “Icon of Christ” – Total Decoration.
  19. Project: St. Joseph’s (Catholic). Date: 1982. Location: Trenton, MI. Work completed: 12’x14′ Mural “Crucifixion” Alter, Reredos.
  20. Project: Old St. Mary’s (Catholic). Date: 1982-83. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Total Interior Restoration 28 Murals 7’x8′ Each.
  21. Project: Our Holy Family (Catholic). Date: 1984. Location: Detroit, MI. Work completed: Total Interior Restoration.

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