“An Artist’s Story: Remembering Franca Fiorentino”

Franca Fiorentino (1912–2002)

Franca Fiorentino was born in Rome, Italy, in 1912. Classically trained in portrait and figure painting, she developed an early passion for the arts that would guide her career throughout her life.

In 1940, as war threatened Italy, her parents sent Franca and her younger brother to New York City to escape Mussolini’s regime and the rising danger of Nazi persecution. Her father and uncle were later taken; while her father was eventually released after a ransom was arranged through the Catholic Church, her uncle perished in Auschwitz. In preparation for their hasty retreat, some of Franca’s art was rolled up and carried out of Europe as protection against the increasing antisemitism sweeping the continent. These works remained rolled for decades until we acquired them from her grandson—unearthed along with this remarkable story and piece of history.

In New York, Franca and her brother lived at the International House for several years. She pursued her artistic talents professionally, working as an artist for Georg Jensen and as a fashion illustrator for *The New York Times*. In 1945, she married and moved to Dayton, Ohio, where her husband was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He later participated in expeditions to both the North and South Poles, and was among the first expeditions to bring penguins back to the San Diego Zoo in North America. Together they had one daughter.

Although trained as a figure painter, Franca demonstrated remarkable versatility. She taught herself kitchen planning, imported and sold Italian oil paintings to friends and clients, and later established herself as an interior designer. After her divorce in 1967, she continued her design work and remained dedicated to the arts throughout her life.

In her later years, Franca lived in a senior community, where she remained active until shortly after her 90th birthday. She is survived by her daughter and two grandsons, who carry forward her legacy of resilience, artistry, and creativity.

“Experience the timeless art of Franca Fiorentino—now on view at 3355 Richmond Rd. #211, Beachwood, Ohio. The collage above shows just a glimpse of her collection; many more original oil paintings are available for viewing and purchase. Please note the images have been lightly enhanced with AI to reduce glare and may differ slightly from the actual works. In addition to the oils, several dozen of Franca’s sketches on painting are also available, offering a rare opportunity to own and preserve a piece of history.”