Aurelius Battaglia


Aurelius Battaglia was an American illustrator, muralist, writer, and director. He was born in Washington, D.C., in 1910 and he died in Provincetown, MA in May 1984. He was the son of Giuseppe and Concetta Battaglia, who had emigrated from Cefalù, Italy. Aurelius attended the Corcoran School of Art. He graduated as one of the Corcoran's most promising students, winning $50 in a Corcoran-sponsored art contest.

Career

Battaglia migrated west in the late 1930s and worked for the Walt Disney Studios from 1937 to 1941. He contributed most notably to Dumbo, Fantasia, and Pinocchio and is credited as one of the writers of the latter. In the mid-1950s, Battaglia joined United Productions of America, a studio staffed by some of the industry's most accomplished, forward-thinking animation artists. Perhaps his most outstanding UPA contribution was the short film The Invisible Moustache of Raoul Dufy. Battaglia directed the film, which was nominated for a BAFTA award.
Battaglia was also a prolific children's book illustrator. His picture book work in the 1950s and 1960s differs significantly from the deco-inspired circus animals of his depression-era murals. They feature bold, solid colors and striking, stylized pen and brush work indicative of the looser, more abstract mid-century cartooning style that he helped pioneer. Notable examples include "Cowboy Jack, the Sheriff," "The Fire Engine Book," "Little Boy With a Big Horn," "When I Met Robin," "Captain Kangaroo's Read-Aloud Book," and "The Fireside Book of American Folk Songs." He contributed to the Childcraft book series published by Field Enterprises.
Battaglia moved to Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he continued to work until his death in May 1984.

Personal life

Battaglia married fellow student Edith Richmond after the two of them graduated from Corcoran School of Art in 1932. Her father, Stoughton Richmond Sr, was an attorney who told them in no uncertain terms that they'd have to find a way to make a living with their art, as he would not support them. They bartered paintings for dental work and other necessities before heading to California, where Aurie truly established himself as an artist.

Style

In the 1930s, Battaglia worked in a flowing, deco-influenced, organic style informed by classic European illustration. His later children's book and animation work was emblematic of the radical, more abstract stylization prevalent in the 1950s and '60s, a trend he helped to establish.
In 1934, the Public Works of Art Project commissioned Battaglia to paint murals in the children's section of the library in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Washington where he resided. The result was a stunning, whimsical panorama of anthropomorphic animals at play. It still hangs in the alcoves of the building's second floor. The Mount Pleasant Library is located at 3160 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20010.

Additional information

Battaglia started out as a caricaturist for the old Washington Star. He later worked for the Resettlement Administration, a New Deal U.S. federal agency that, between April 1935 and December 1936, relocated struggling urban and rural families to communities planned by the federal government.
1937-1941: Walt Disney Studios. Battaglia started working for Disney on January 6, 1937 as an in-betweener, soon after Battaglia moved to the Story Department, where he worked as a sketch man and contributed ideas. Battaglia worked on the "Fox and the Cat" sequence, story sketch, for Pinocchio. Battaglia worked on the "Pastoral" sequence of Fantasia, and the "Dance of the Hours" sequence - hippo & alligator. Battaglia made storyboards for Dumbo, worked on the "Pink Elephant" sequence and wrote some of the gags.
Battaglia participated in the Disney animators' strike. He was fired, but was able to return. He also worked briefly for Warner Brothers.
Battaglia made training films for the navy during World War II as a civilian. Joined the Navy, stationed on Constitution Ave in D.C., made slide films, "How to survive in the jungle."
Battaglia made 17 or more theatre caricatures of actors during the late 1940s for the New York Times, the Compass, and the New York Star. Here are some of the actor's names that appeared in Battaglia's theatre caricatures: Jackie Gleason, Carol Channing, Marc Connelly, Elizabeth Ross, Josephine Hull, Eddie Dowling, Conrad Nagel, Madeleine Carroll, Sam Wanamaker, Howard Lindsay, Dorothy Stickney, Ian Hunter, Peggy Ashcroft, Robert Morley, Ralph Riggs, Jean Handelik, Joseph Macaulay, Kathleen Roche, Morton Bowe, Erick Kristen, Joseph Milan, Eddie Phillips, Juano Hernandez, Frank Wilson, Leo G. Carroll, Pamela Rivers, Alan Baxter, Ray Bolger, Horace Cooper, Allyn Ann McLerie, José Ferrer, Doro Merande, William Lynn, Francis Brandt, Kathleen Comegys, Burton Mallory, Todd Duncan, Gertrude Jeannette, and more.
Battaglia drew political caricatures for Reporter magazine.
Battaglia made three unpublished book dummies during the late 1940s to early 1950s: "What They Said at the Zoo", "Mr. Chokolitis", and "Scissors Bill". Two of the book dummies contain children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds—years before Ezra Jack Keats book, "The Snowy Day".
In the mid-1950s, Battaglia lived in Roosevelt, NY and returned to the west coast to work for UPA for three years. Battaglia directed The Invisible Moustache of Raoul Dufy, created for the Museum of Modern Art—shown at the museum and on the Gerald McBoing Boing Show, CBS -- $10,000 budget. Battaglia worked on "The Beanstalk Trial". -
Battaglia illustrated "Saucer Sessions: Conventioners Report Recent Encounters with Space People", in LIFE Magazine, May 27, 1957
1978: Battaglia bought cartoonist Mischa Rictor's house in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he continued to work until his death in May, 1984. 8 Cook Street, Provincetown, MA - https://buildingprovincetown.wordpress.com/tag/cook-street/
1980: Storyboard and layout for Jack Zander's film, "Gnomes".
Battaglia was a member of the Beachcomber's Club in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Battaglia drew caricatures for Vanity Fair.

List of illustrated books

List compiled from worldcat.org
1947
• Pat-a-cake : a baby's Mother Goose by Aurelius Battaglia; English, Publisher: London : F. Muller, ©1947
1948
• Baby's Mother Goose : pat-a-cake by Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: New York : Golden Press : Racine : Western Pub. Co., ©1948.
• Pat-a-cake : baby's Mother Goose by Aurelius Battaglia; English, Publisher: New York : Simon and Schuster, ©1948.
• Pain d'Epice : contes de nourrice by Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: France : Simon and Schuster, 1948.
1949
• Pain d'épice : contes de nourrice by Aurelius Battaglia; French, Publisher: Paris : Cocorico, 1949.
• The penny puppy and other dog stories by Robert Garfield; Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: New York : Simon and Schuster, 1949.
• Lost in the stars caricature, 1949 Oct. by Aurelius Battaglia, Image : Graphic : Original artwork Archival Material, English, Database: WorldCat
• Touch and go caricature, October 9, 1949. by Aurelius Battaglia, Image : Graphic : Original artwork Archival Material, Language: English, Database: WorldCat
1950
• Klappe klappe kage : børnerim by Aurelius Battaglia; Danish, Publisher: : Fremad, 1950
• Little boy with a big horn by Jack Bechdolt; Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: Racine, Wis. : Golden Press : Western Pub. Co., ©1950.
• The cat who went to sea, and other cat stories, by Kathryn Jackson; Byron Jackson; Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: New York, Simon and Schuster
• Pets for Peter.by Jane Werner Watson; Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: New York, Simon and Schuster
• Pepparkakan by Aurelius Battaglia; Britt G Hallqvist; Swedish, Publisher: Stockholm : Folket i builds förl., 1950
• Henkie met de hoorn by Jack Bechdolt; Annie M G Schmidt; Aurelius Battaglia, Dutch, Publisher: : De Bezige Bij, cop. 1950.
• Freddy's vriendje by Jane Werner; Aurelius Battaglia; Han G Hoekstra, Dutch, Publisher: : De Bezige Bij, 1950.
• Little Boy with a Big Horn by Jack Bechdolt; Aurelius Battaglia; Larry Groce, English, Publisher: Western Pub WI. 1950
1951
• Pain d'épice : contes de nourrice by Aurelius Battaglia; French, Publisher: : Cocorico,
1952
• The fireside book of favorite American songs, by Margaret Bradford Boni; Norman Lloyd; Aurelius Battaglia; Anne Brooks; Carl Van Doren, Musical score : Folk music : Multiple forms : Songs, English, Publisher: New York : Simon and Schuster, ©1952.
• The fireside book of favorite American songs by Margaret Bradford Boni; Norman Lloyd; Aurelius Battaglia; Carl Van Doren; Anne Brookes; Musical score, English, Publisher: New York : Simon and Schuster,
• The fireside book of favorite American songs by Margaret Bradford Boni; Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: Simon & Schuster, ©1952
1953
• Klappe klappe kage : børnerim, by Aurelius Battaglia; Danish, Publisher: Fremad, 1953
• Book Review: The Fireside Book of Favorite American Songs by Levette J Davidson, Article, English, Publication: Western Folklore, v12 n2 : 144-145, Database: JSTOR Arts & Sciences III Collection
1956
• Favorite American songs by Margaret Bradford Boni; Aurelius Battaglia; Norman Lloyd, English, Publisher: New York Simon & Schuster 1956
1958
• Rémi et sa ménagerie by Jane Werner Watson; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: Paris : Éditions des deux cogs d'or, 1958, ©1950.
1959
• Freddy's vriendje by Jane Werner Watson; Aurelius Battaglia; Han G Hoekstra, Dutch, Publisher: : Bezige Bij,
1960
• Our American language by Leslie Waller; Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston, ©1960.
• Los favoritos de Pedro by Jane Werner Watson; Aurelius Battaglia, Spanish, Publisher: México, D.F. : Editorial Novaro-México, S.A., ©1960.
1962
• Baby's Mother Goose, pat-a-cake by Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: London,
1963
• Captain Kangaroo's storybook by Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: New York : Random House,
• Captain Kangaroo's sleepytime book by Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: New York, Random House
1964
• This is my house by Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Playskool, Inc., ©1964.
• Here comes spring by Bertha Morris Parker; Aurelius Battaglia, English, Publisher: New York : Golden Press, ©1964.
• C'est le printemps by Lieselotte M Blasen; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: Paris : Lito, ©1964.
• Viene primavera : giochi e passatempi by Bertha Morris Parker; Aurelius Battaglia, Italian, Publisher: Milano : Mondadori, 1964.
1965
• The reindeer book by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: N.Y. : Golden Press, ©1965.
• Around the city by Irma Simonton Black; Aurelius Battaglia; Bank Street College of Education.; et al., Publisher: New York : Macmillan, ©1965.
• Het groot gouden speelboek by Adelaide Holl; Bertha Morris Parker; Margaret Wells Welsh; Aurelius Battaglia; et al., Dutch, Publisher: Mortsel, Belgium : Zuid-Nederlandse Uitgeverij, ©1965.
1966
• Stories to read to the very young by Aurelius Battaglia; Publisher: New York, Random House
• The little pig who listened by Odille Ousley; Lois Duffield; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: Boston : Ginn and Co., ©1966.
• Vive la musique ! by Jack Bechtolt; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: Paris : Hachette, 1966.
• Le petit garçon musicien by Jack Bechdolt; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: : , 1966.
1968
• When I met Robin. by Ralph Alan Dale; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : L.W. Singer Co.,
1969
• The Raggedy Ann book, by Janet Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia; Johnny Gruelle, Publisher: New York : Golden Press, ©1969.
1970
• Old Mother Hubbard by Sarah Catherine Martin; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: Racine, Wisc. : Western Pub. Co., ©1970.
• The magic of music : book one by Lorrain E Watters, Publisher: Boston, Mass. : Ginn and Co., ©1970.
1971
• Detective Arthur on the scent, by Mary J Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York, Golden Press
• Old Mother Hubbard by Aurelius Battaglia by Aurelius Battaglia; Publisher: Sydney : Golden Pr, 1971.
• Detective Arthur on the scent by Mary J Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia, German, Publisher: New York Golden Press 1971, 1971
1972
• The new golden dictionary. by Bertha Morris Parker, Aurelius Battaglia; Ellen Wales Walpole, Publisher: New York, Golden Press, 1972.
• Le chien de la mère Gaspard by Micheline, traductrice.; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: Paris : Ed. des Deux coqs d'or, cop. 1972.
1973
• Mother Goose.by Aurelius Battaglia; Publisher: New York, Random House,
• Boys' and girls' dictionary by Bertha Morris Parker; Aurelius Battaglia; Carole Frappell, Publisher: London : Hamlyn, 1973.
• 1974 Golden fragrance calendar by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: : Western Publishing, ©1973.
• Old Mother Hubbard by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: Racine : Golden Press, 1973.
1974
• Detective Arthur ; master sleuth by Mary J Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Golden Press,
• Boy's and girl's dictionary by Bertha Morris Parker; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: London Hamlyn
• Le chien de la mer̀e Gaspard, by Micheline.; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: Paris : Ed́itions des Deux Coqs d'or, 1974.
1975
• Detective Arthur, master sleuth by Mary J Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Golden Press, ©1974
• Hier komt de lente! by Bertha Morris Parker; Aurelius Battaglia; L Kurben, Dutch, Publisher: Aartselaar : Zuidnederlandse Uitgeverij ; Harderwijk : Centrale Uitgeverij, 1975.
• Dicionário infantil dos três idiomas : Baseado no obra by Bertha Morris Parker; Aurelius Battaglia; Portuguese, Lisboa : Verbo, cop. 1975.
1976
• The big farm book by Annie Ingle; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Platt & Munk, ©1976.
• Spiel + Lies! Wir spielen im Frühling! by Aurelius Battaglia; Lieselotte M Blasen; German, Publisher: Erlangen : Pestalozzi-Verl.,
• Mesterdetektiven Arthur by Mary J Fulton; Mona Giersing; Aurelius Battaglia, Danish, Publisher: Kbh. : Lademann, 1976.
• C'est le printemps ! by Lieselotte M Blasen; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: Paris : Éditions Lito, 1976
• Salapoliisi Arttu by Mary J Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia; Ulla Ropponen, Finnish, Publisher: Helsinki : Weilin + Göös,
• Le Chien de la mère Gaspard by Micheline.; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: Paris : Ed. des Deux Coqs d'or, 1976.
• Arthur détective et les 3 mysteres by Mary J Fulton; Nanon Gardin; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: Editions des Deux Coqs d'Or D.L. 1976.
1977
• Three little pigs by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Random House, ©1977.
• Seasons, by Sarah Leslie; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Platt & Munk, ©1977.
• The Raggedy Ann book by Janet Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: Racine, Wisc. : Golden Press, 1977 ©1969.
• El Detective Arturo ; maestro de la investigacion, by Mary J Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia, Spanish, Publisher: Mexico : Organizacion Editorial Novaro, 1977.
1978
• A farm by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Platt & Munk, ©1978.
• Animal homemakers by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Platt & Munk, ©1978.
• Happy Jack and the princess by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Random House, 1978.
1979
• Le chien de la mère Gaspard : comptines, by Micheline.; Aurelius Battaglia; French, Publisher: : Deux coqs d'or, 1979.
• Junglemen by Max Ongaro; Hugo Pratt; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: Grenoble : Éditions Jacques Glénat,
1980
• My first Mother Goose book by Aurelius Battaglia; Publisher: New York : Golden Press ; Racine, Wis. : Western Pub. Co., ©1980.
• Le Chien de la mère Gaspard by Micheline.; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: : Editions des Deux Coqs d'Or, 1980.
1981
• Animal sounds by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Golden Press, ©1981.
• Mr. Bell's Fixit Shop, by Ronne Randall; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Golden Press, ©1981.
• Hiram's red shirt by Mabel Watts; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Golden Press, ©1981.
• Pain d'épice by Aurelius Battaglia; French, Publisher: Paris : Editions des Deux Coqs d'Or, 1981.
1982
• The Santa Claus book, by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Golden Press, ©1982.
• The fire engine book, by Jesse Younger; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Golden Press, ©1982.
• Detective Arthur in the case of the mysterious stranger, by Mary J Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Golden Press ; Racine, Wis. : Western Pub. Co., ©1982.
• Detective Arthur : paint with water. by Mary J Fulton; Aurelius Battaglia; Publisher: Racine, Wisc. : Western Pub. Co., ©1982.
1983
• Dicionário infantil dos três idiomas by Regina Sales; Aurelius Battaglia; Bertha Morris Parker, Portuguese, Publisher: Lisboa ; São Paulo : Editorial Verbo, 1983.
1984: Aurelius Battaglia died of cancer on Tuesday, May 29, 1984 in Provincetown, Mass.
Books released after Battaglia's death:
1986
• Le Cri des animaux by Aurelius Battaglia; French, Publisher: : Deux coqs d'or, 1986
• Le chien de la mère Gaspard, by Micheline.; Aurelius Battaglia, French, Publisher: : Deux Coqs d'or, 1986.
1987
• My big farm book : adapted from the original text by Annie Ingle, by Carol Thompson; Aurelius Battaglia; Annie Ingle, Publisher: New York : Platt & Munk, ©1987.
• The bunnies' book of seasons by Sandy DeWitt; Aurelius Battaglia; Sarah Leslie, Publisher: New York : Platt & Munk, ©1987.
• Mr. Bell's fixit shop, by Ronne Peltzman; Aurelius Battaglia, Chinese, Publisher: : Western, ©1987.
• Ke ai de xiao chong wu, by June Werner; Aurelius Battaglia, Chinese, Publisher: Taibei shi : Qi si wen hua shi ye gong si, 1987.
• Xiao nan hai yu da la ba, by Jack Bechdolt; Aurelius Battaglia, Chinese, Publisher: Taibei shi : Qi si wen hua shi ye gong si, 1987.
1990
• Los favoritos de Pedro, by Jane Werner Watson; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: Mexico : Editorial Trillas, 1990.
• Dicionário infantil dos três idiomas, by Regina Sales; Aurelius Battaglia; Bertha Morris Parker, Portuguese, Publisher: Lisboa : Editorial Verbo, , ©1975.
1991
• Three little pigs by Aurelius Battaglia; Publisher: Boston : Houghton Mifflin, ©1991.
• El Coche de bomberos, by Jesse Younger; Aurelius Battaglia, Spanish, Publisher: Barcelona : Toray, DL 1991.
• El Cotxe dels bombers, by Jesse Younger; Aurelius Battaglia, Catalan, Publisher: Barcelona : Toray, DL 1991.
1993
• 愛心修理店 / Ai xin xiu li dian, by 佩特美 原作 Pei te mei, ; Aurelius Battaglia, Chinese, Publisher: 智茂, Tai bei shi : Zhi mao, min 82
1994
• Animal sounds, by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: Livonia, MI : SEEDLINGS Braille Books for Children, 1994.
1995
• Animal sounds by Aurelius Battaglia; Seedlings Braille Books for Children, Publisher: New York : Golden Press ; Racine, Wis. : Western Pub. Co., 1995, ©1981.
1998
• Freddy's vriendje, by Jane Werner Watson; Han G Hoekstra; Aurelius Battaglia, Dutch, Publisher: : De Bezige Bij,
1999
• Little boy with a big horn by Jack Bechdolt; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Golden Books Pub. Co., 1999, ©1978.
• My first farm book by Annie Ingle; Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York : Barnes & Noble Books, 1999.
• おおきなラッパとちいさなオリー / Ookina rappa to chiisana orī, by Jack Bechdolt; Aurelius Battaglia; Naoko Shimizu; Japanese, Publisher: 徳間書店,
2003
• Henkie met de hoorn, by Jack Bechdolt; Aurelius Battaglia; Annie M G Schmidt, Dutch, Publisher: Amsterdam : Rubinstein, cop. 2003.
2005
• Animal sounds by Aurelius Battaglia, Publisher: New York, NY : Random House, 2005.
2010
• מר סול מתקן הכל / Mar Sol metaḳen ha-kol, by פלצמן, רון. Ronne Randall; Yaʻel Harʼel; Aurelius Battaglia, Hebrew, Publisher: צלטנר ספרים של ילדים, Moshav Ben Shemen : Tselṭner sefarim shel yeladim, 2010.