Franco Gentilini (1909-1981). Italian artist, illustrator and stage designed, considered to be one of the great figurative artists of 20th Century. He first exhibited his work in Venice in 1930 at the Venice International Art Show. He moved to Rome in 1932 and held his first solo show at the Galleria di Roma with works inspired by pre-Renaissance Italian art. From the 1950’s Gentilini’s work became more geometric. Cats were especially dear to him as they represented domesticity, femininity and eroticism. To celebrate the centenary of the artist's birth, several retrospectives were held in public spaces (Pericle Fazzini Museum in Assisi and Museo della Permanente in Milan) organized largely by his wife Luciana Giuntoli who also took care of the collection of his personal archive.
