In Memoriam Marcel Franciscono
Franciscono was a Professor in the History of Art from 1965 until his retirement in 1996. He was admired for his insights into 20th-century painting and for his integrity as a scholar and teacher. His first book, Walter Gropius and the Creation of the Bauhaus in Weimar, published in 1971, is still an important work of reference in the field, as is his book Paul Klee: His Work and Thought.
The Modern Dutch Poster: The First 50 Years was part of an exhibition at Krannert Art Museum in 1987 with Stephen Prokopoff. Marcel’s scholarship ranged across modern European art and architectural history, as evidenced by his books on Dutch graphic art (posters), German architecture (Gropius), and Swiss art (Klee).
Marcel was a much beloved member of the faculty, always ready to strike up a conversation in the slide room or hallway. He was a great interlocutor, engaging with colleagues and friends in coffee shops or even walks toward home with neighbors. He was also a regular participant in studio crits, where he was appreciated for his incisive observations especially regarding the formal qualities of works.