Images of Image-Maker Descendants – 2022
A Pleasant Surprise…
Receiving a text from cousin, Michael (Mary Sue’s son) yesterday came as quite a surprise! As you know I am deep into writing the history of the Gromignana Image Makers and receiving “images” from sixth and seventh generation descendants is wonderful! What do our ancestors think about it all? I hope they are proud to see that there are still ties among the family even after all these years. I have come to know the IMAGE MAKERS’ story like the back of my hand, so just for fun, let’s take a short journey back from Michael and David kids linking them to their image maker ancestors.
THE Generations…
Now this little journey may get a little confusing but try to follow the strand (the number behind the names is their generation from their Image Maker ancestor)…
What you see to your right, if we follow the history from the first Gromignana Image Makers we are able to document, are Jacob (6thG son of DavidG), Caroline (7thG – son of MichaelD), Sean (7thG – son of MichaelD) and Clara (6thG – daughter of DavidG)
And their parents! Erin, David Jacob & Michael & Stephanie (photo right). You have to admire Erin and Stephanie who agreed to be part of our crazy family. Love and gratitude to them all!
David (5thG) is the son of Vince (4thG)
Michael (6thG) is the son of Mary Sue (5thG) and Mike
Photo#1 – Deb & VinceG (4thG – son of Ferd) Photo#2 – Mary SueMD (5thG daughter of Dominic)
Photos courtesy of Jerome from an Image Makers Meet & Greet in Louisville last summer (2022)
I just love this photo of Dominic & Ferd in Gromignana circa 1970s. I wondered when I would ever have an opportunity to use it. Now by some quirk of fate, or our Image Maker ancestors wanting a little chuckle, it is prefect moment to share this photo. Dominic (4thG – son of Amerisa & Pellegrino, father of Mary SueMD, grandfather of MichaelD) and Ferd (3rdG – son of PacificoG, father of VinceG and grandfather of DavidG).
They are on a visit together in Gromignana no less
Photo courtesy of David M. (Dominic’s son)
NOW HERE’S WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE TRICKY…
In this photo (right) are very important ancestors. They are as follows (left to right): Pellegrino (3rdG), Antognetta (wife of Pacifico), Amerisa (3rdG – daughter of David Alimede below)) and Pacifico (2ndG, youngest son of Domenico). Amerisa is the niece of Pacifico and Pellegrino is a cousin. Pacifico and Antognetta are what we call “chain links” in our history of Image Making. They came to Louisville and opened their home to their family at 916 E. Jefferson. Many an Image Maker from Gromignana slept in their home, some, like Aunt Dorina (in background of photo), settling there permanently. It is quite a wonderful story!
Photo right courtesy of BarbaraGS
Pictured left is David AlimedeM (2nd generation) with his wife ArmidaG (Domenico & Filomena’s daughter below) . David is the son of FerdinandoM (1st – 1819 – 1878) an Image Maker “chain pioneer” who first came to the U.S. in 1871 to make and sell statuary (unfortunately we do not have a photo of Ferdinando). FernandoM has many sons who carry on the as image makers. Photo left courtesy of DavidM, Dominic’s son.
Pictured left is Filomena (1839-1911) and her husband, and “chain pioneer,” DomenicoG. (1st generation – 1821-1907), who is a contemporary of Ferdinando Mattei. Domenico is one of the first image maker from Gromignana to travel to San Paolo, Brazil in the 1860s to set up image making there.
Photo courtesy JeromeG.
So how wonderful is it that we are enjoying IMAGES of our ancestors sitting down over a plate of pasta to share memories! Michael’s text is as follows:
We are visiting with David (Vince’s son) … Could be the first time (for) these generation (to be) pictured together. Ferd’ great grand kids and Bico’s (Domimnic) great grandkids. It was great to see them. We talked about your updates and cooking and how we cook versus our wives families. And we all shared laughs…How our recipes serve an army and always have leftovers and (our wives) families cook with no leftovers. and we talked about how when our parents cook they dirty twice as many dishes as necessary. Finally, Michaels adds, “Like a true Italian Italian David made homemade marinara sauce with spagetti and homemade bread. “ Could there be any better Delicious Memories? I am crying like a baby as I finish this BLOG! Thanks so much to Michael and David for sharing their memories with us. (Photo below courtesy of “cook and bottle washer” DavidG.
Really cool write up, thank you Julie!