John Bond Francisco was born in Cincinnati, OH on Dec. 14, 1863. From an early age Francisco was drawn to both music and art. He studied the violin with Hermann Eckhardt and painting at the Cincinnati Art Academy for several years.

He arrived in Los Angeles in 1887 and was so taken with the beauty of the place, he opted to make it his home. He soon continued his studies in Berlin, Munich, and in Paris at Académies Julian and Colarossi under Courtois, Bouguereau, and Robert-Fleury. While in Europe he studied the violin in the morning hours and painting in the afternoon.

Upon returning to Los Angeles in 1892, he married and built a home at 1401 Albany Street where he lived for the

Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
Out West, Sept. 1913; Graphic, 3-10-1918; Who's Who in the Pacific Southwest; American Art Annual 1919-33; Who's Who in California 1929; Los Angeles Times, 8-3-1930; Plein Air Painters (Ruth Westphal); Artists of the American West (Doris Dawdy); Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors & Engravers (Fielding, Mantle); Southern California Artists (Nancy Moure); So. Calif. Artists 1890-1940; Los Angeles Times, 1-9-1931 (obituary).

Nearly 20,000 biographies can be found in Artists in California 1786-1940 by Edan Hughes and is available for sale ($150). For a full book description and order information please click here....