Francisc Sirato (1877-1953, born in Craiova). Romanian painter and drawing artist. While still a pupil, he painted posters and journal illustrations; he studied first in Dusseldorf (1898), in a lytography workshop. Then, he studied at the Fine Arts School in Bucharest (1900-1905), collaborating with some magazines of the time, with drawings that show his spirit of criticism. He took part in the exhibitions of some Romanian artists’ associations, such as: "The Artistic Youth", The Romanian Art", "The Group of the Four" (Sirato, Tonitza, Stefan Dimitrescu, Oscar Han). In 1917 he was a curator of the National Folk Art Museum; in 1933 he become a teacher at the Fine Arts Academy. He was awarded the gold medal at the Romanian Art Exhibition in Brussels, 1935; the bronze medal at the International Exhibition in New York, 1939; the Estate Prize, 1946. Skillful in the use of colours, also in drawing; his painting is lyrical, full of affectiveness. He had a warm, affectivate way of approaching the world. His work was varied, complex, impressing by its emotional intensity, as in the case with his landscapes ("Road at Tusla"; "The Small Cafe", "The White Hill", "Baneasa Bridge", "View of Sighisoara", "Balcic" a.s.o.).