John A. Mallin
Encyclopedia
John A. Mallin was a Czech-American mural
and fresco painter in the Chicago area in the 20th century. He painted many church interiors for the Archdiocese of Chicago, often working after the architect and builder Henry J. Schlacks completed the structure of a church.
John Mallin was born Johann Malinkowitsch on April 14th, 1883 in the town of Bischofwart (now Hlohovec) in what was then Lower Austria, and is now the Czech Republic
. His parents both came from families of vintners, but Johann was apprenticed to a series of master trainers in the painter’s trade from April 1, 1898 until April 1, 1902. Until 1906, he continued to live and work near his home as a painter’s assistant with a number of employers, some of whom were his former master instructors. His work ledger indicates a high level of satisfaction with his performance and demeanor. He was often let go “because of lack of available work.” In search of a more secure future, he shortened his name to Mallin and came to the United States
in 1907.
He settled in Chicago
and eventually opened a studio in the Fine Arts Building
at 410 S. Michigan Avenue
in the Chicago Landmark
Historic Michigan Boulevard District
. He specialized in church decoration and ecclesiastical painting as well as art glass and mosaics. He stated his philosophy in one of his commercial brochures as follows:
His business flourished. In one of his brochures, he lists over 50 churches as references, most in Chicago
, but some in Indiana
, Michigan
, Iowa
and Tennessee
. Eventually, he moved his studio to 2252 W. Devon Avenue
. His son joined the studio and specialized in gold leaf applications. He decorated more than 100 churches in his lifetime.
He died in 1973. He has a crypt in the crematorium at the Bohemian National Cemetery
, which still has his decorations from the 1920s.
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
and fresco painter in the Chicago area in the 20th century. He painted many church interiors for the Archdiocese of Chicago, often working after the architect and builder Henry J. Schlacks completed the structure of a church.
John Mallin was born Johann Malinkowitsch on April 14th, 1883 in the town of Bischofwart (now Hlohovec) in what was then Lower Austria, and is now the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. His parents both came from families of vintners, but Johann was apprenticed to a series of master trainers in the painter’s trade from April 1, 1898 until April 1, 1902. Until 1906, he continued to live and work near his home as a painter’s assistant with a number of employers, some of whom were his former master instructors. His work ledger indicates a high level of satisfaction with his performance and demeanor. He was often let go “because of lack of available work.” In search of a more secure future, he shortened his name to Mallin and came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1907.
He settled in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and eventually opened a studio in the Fine Arts Building
Fine Arts Building (Chicago)
The ten-story Fine Arts Building, also known as the Studebaker Building, is located on Michigan Avenue across from Grant Park in Chicago in the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan Boulevard District. It was built for the Studebaker company in 1884–5 by Solon Spencer Beman, and extensively remodeled...
at 410 S. Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue (Chicago)
Michigan Avenue is a major north-south street in Chicago which runs at 100 east south of the Chicago River and at 132 East north of the river from 12628 south to 950 north in the Chicago street address system...
in the Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark is a designation of the Mayor of Chicago and the Chicago City Council for historic buildings and other sites in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Listed sites are selected after meeting a combination of criteria, including historical, economic, architectural, artistic, cultural,...
Historic Michigan Boulevard District
Historic Michigan Boulevard District
The Historic Michigan Boulevard District is a historic district in the Loop community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States encompassing Michigan Avenue between 11th or Roosevelt Road , depending on the source, and Randolph Streets and named after the nearby Great Lake...
. He specialized in church decoration and ecclesiastical painting as well as art glass and mosaics. He stated his philosophy in one of his commercial brochures as follows:
- As there is nothing too good for God, so there is nothing too rich or too precious for God’s earthly homes, His churches...
His business flourished. In one of his brochures, he lists over 50 churches as references, most in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, but some in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Eventually, he moved his studio to 2252 W. Devon Avenue
Devon Avenue (Chicago)
Devon Avenue is a major east-west thoroughfare in the Chicago metropolitan area. It begins at Chicago's Sheridan Road, which borders Lake Michigan, and it runs west until merging with Higgins Road near O'Hare International Airport. Devon continues on the opposite side of the airport and runs...
. His son joined the studio and specialized in gold leaf applications. He decorated more than 100 churches in his lifetime.
He died in 1973. He has a crypt in the crematorium at the Bohemian National Cemetery
Bohemian National Cemetery
Bohemian National Cemetery is a cemetery at 5255 North Pulaski Road on the north side of Chicago, Illinois.-History:The cemetery was established by members of Chicago's Czech community in 1877. The community had been outraged when a Czech Catholic woman named Marie Silhanek was denied burial at...
, which still has his decorations from the 1920s.