Classic Religious Statues
 

 

 

 


About the Artist

In 1925, at the age of 13, Gaetano (Tom) Paino emigrated from Italy to join his father in Australia. His artistic nature first found expression through painting murals of orchards on the walls of his father's fruit shop, and when he became an adult, he was apprenticed as a statue painter to the Mattei brothers. In 1935 he started his own business manufacturing and restoring religious statues, which he continued until his abilities were totally impaired by a stroke in 2006. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 102.


About the Artist - Tom Painting
Tom at work in 1960



About the Artist - Tom Painting
A major restoration job



About the Artist - Tom Painting
Still painting at 94 years old