In a message dated 9/19/2005 6:24:41 PM Pacific Standard Time, bjburdan@dejazzd.com writes: John F. Francis Born in Philadelphia, John Francis became a key artist in the mid-19th century revival of still life painting in America but was not recognized during his lifetime. His focus was "luncheon" or "dessert" type subjects, which he rendered in bright, radiant color, a breaking away from the stern mode taught by the Peale family of artists in Philadelphia. Kassie