June 19

Born in 1701 in Paris, François Rebel was the son of composer Jean-Féry Rebel and heir to his musical legacy. He joined the king’s orchestra at age 17 and later became its concertmaster and a director of the Paris Opera. Rebel composed ballets, trios, and operatic works noted for their graceful blend of Italian and French styles. His leadership at the Opera shaped French musical tastes and influenced the transition to the classical era. Rebel’s compositions remain celebrated for their elegance, innovation, and refined craftsmanship.

Joaquim Machado de Castro was one of the most important Portuguese sculptors of the 18th and early 19th centuries. He served as the official sculptor to Queen Maria I and helped shape the direction of Portuguese neoclassical sculpture. He was a founding member and later the director of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Lisbon. His most famous work is the equestrian statue of King Joseph I in Lisbon’s Praça do Comércio. Machado de Castro’s workshop produced a wide range of religious and secular works that remain central to Portugal’s cultural heritage.

Cornelius Krieghoff emigrated from the Netherlands to North America and became one of Canada’s most popular genre painters. He captured winter landscapes, rural life, and scenes of First Nations communities with attention to detail and color. Krieghoff’s works appeared on prints and in exhibitions throughout North America and Europe. His art provided a window into daily life in Upper Canada during a period of rapid change. Today, his paintings are prized by collectors and hold an important place in Canada’s artistic heritage.

Alfredo Catalani was born in 1854 in Lucca and emerged as a leading figure in the verismo opera movement. His works, including 'Loreley' and 'La Wally', showcased his gift for melodic invention and orchestral color. Catalani studied at the Milan Conservatory and became a professor of composition. Although his life was cut short, his music influenced contemporaries like Puccini and contributed to late-19th-century Italian opera. Today, 'La Wally' remains a staple of the repertoire, celebrated for its emotional depth. Catalani's legacy endures through recordings and revived performances more than a century after his death in 1893.

Born in Chicago in 1881, Maginel Wright Enright was the younger sister of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. After studying at the Chicago Art Institute, she rose to prominence illustrating children's stories for magazines like St. Nicholas. Her whimsical and detailed artwork graced the covers of popular publications such as Woman's Home Companion. She illustrated well-known books including The Twinkle Tales and works by authors like L. Frank Baum. Enright's distinct style helped define early 20th-century American illustration and inspired future generations of artists. She remained active in art and publishing until her death in 1966.

Born in Montpellier in 1884, Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes became a key figure in the Dada art movement. He contributed paintings, poetry, and manifestos to the Zurich Dada group during World War I. After the war, he explored surrealist ideas in both his visual art and written works. Ribemont-Dessaignes later turned to art history, teaching and publishing studies on modern art. His multidisciplinary approach bridged creative practice and scholarly research in the early 20th century. He died in 1974, leaving behind a body of work that influenced both avant-garde art and academic discourse.

Born Helmut Herzfeld in 1891 in Berlin, John Heartfield adopted his English name as a protest against German nationalism. He became a leading member of the Dada movement, using photomontage to create striking political satire. Heartfield's work for publications like Arbeiter-Illustrierte-Zeitung exposed the dangers of Nazi propaganda. Forced to flee Germany in 1933, he continued producing anti-fascist art in Czechoslovakia and later in England. His innovative techniques influenced graphic design, advertising, and political poster art worldwide. Heartfield died in 1968, leaving a legacy as a fearless commentator on power and ideology.

Guy Lombardo was born in 1902 in Canada and later moved to the United States to pursue music. He founded 'Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians' in 1924, blending smooth dance music with jazz influences. The band became synonymous with New Year’s Eve celebrations, earning the nickname 'America’s Sweetest Music'. Lombardo led his orchestra in annual live radio and television broadcasts to ring in the new year. He was also a talented violinist known for his elegant playing style. Over his career, he recorded dozens of hit records and toured internationally. He died in 1977, remembered for bringing joy to generations of listeners.

Mary Callery was born in 1903 in New York City and studied sculpture under Constantin Brancusi in Paris. She developed a distinctive modernist style characterized by organic forms and expressive abstraction. Callery exhibited her sculptures at the Salon d'Automne and other prestigious venues in France and the United States. She taught at art schools and mentored young artists, influencing postwar American sculpture. Her public commissions include reliefs and monuments that blend classical and modern elements. She was also active in the New York art scene, collaborating with painters and architects. Callery passed away in 1977, leaving a legacy as a pioneering female sculptor.

Virginia MacWatters was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1912 and studied voice at the Curtis Institute of Music. She made her debut with the Chicago Opera Company before joining the Metropolitan Opera, where she sang roles in Mozart and Rossini operas. In addition to her operatic career, MacWatters appeared on Broadway and in radio musicals, showcasing her acting talents. She toured extensively across the United States and Europe, championing American opera. After retiring from performance, she taught voice until her death in 2005, leaving a legacy of artistic versatility.

Born in Cumberland County, Virginia, Flatt began playing music in his teens and rose to fame with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. In 1948, he formed the Foggy Mountain Boys with banjo virtuoso Earl Scruggs, pioneering the bluegrass sound. The duo recorded classics such as "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," bringing bluegrass to a national audience. Flatt's smooth rhythm guitar style and distinctive tenor vocals became hallmarks of the genre. He was posthumously inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1991. Flatt's musical legacy continues to influence country and bluegrass musicians worldwide.

Born in Marseille, Jourdan rose to fame for his portrayal of the charming playboy in the classic musical "Gigi" (1958). He starred in a variety of genres, from romantic dramas to thrillers, including his memorable role as a Bond villain in "Octopussy" (1983). Jourdan's elegant style and smooth French accent made him a sought-after leading man through the 1950s and 1960s. During World War II, he served in the French Army before embarking on an acting career in European cinema. His career spanned over six decades, earning him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Jourdan retired to the south of France and remained an international film icon until his death in 2015.