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JOHN BOND FRANCISCO Biography |
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Painter. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 14, 1863. After spending several years in the study of art and music in Cincinnati, Francisco settled in Los Angeles in the 1880’s. Traveling to Europe, he then studied in Berlin, Munich, and in Paris at Academies Julian and Colarossi under Bouguereau, Courtois, and Robert-Fleury. Upon returning to Los Angeles, he married and built a studio home at 1401 Albany Street where he lived for the rest of his life. Combining an art and music career, he helped form the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra in 1897 and served as their first concert master. While teaching music and art at his studio, he made painting excursions into the surrounding countryside, often with his pupil Elmer Wachtel. He combined his Munich technique with that of the Barbizon’s influence to produce paintings of the California deserts and mountains that held dramatic light and shade contrasts. Later his Barbizon style brightened into the lighter palette of Impressionism. Francisco’s home and studio were a mecca for both painters and musicians until his death on January 8, 1931.
Member: Laguna Beach Art Association; Los Angeles Art Association; Painters and Sculptors of Los Angeles; Southern California Artists Association. Exhibited: California Building, World’s Columbian Expo, Chicago, 1893. Works Held: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California, Los Angeles. |
