Francesca Alexander

Francesca Alexander (1837-1917), originally known as Ester Frances Alexander was an accomplished Illustrator, author, painter and philanthropist. Born in Boston to Francis Alexander, a famous American portrait painter and Lucia Gray Swett, a wealthy heiress. When she was 16, Alexander moved to Florence where she would spend the rest of her life. Alexander, though not classically trained, was a gifted illustrator. Learning from her father, she would draw anything and everything in sight. 

Francesca drew from a very young age. Drawing from literary sources, nature, and architecture around here. She also drew portraits of those around her. The Alexanders moved around Florence but always remained prominent members of the Anglo-American community. Anglo-Americans in Florence would come and visit the Alexanders for anything from their large gatherings, or to model for Francescas next drawing.  

Alexander made a great deal of effort to provide charity to her less fortunate companions. Alexander would donate the money she made from her art, prompting many to overpay her, donating in their own way. As a thank you, Alexander would make intricate and beautiful manuscripts for her patrons. These manuscripts were sought out by many, prompting even more donations.  

Furthermore, Alexander began to collect the songs and stories of her Italian companies from the Tuscan countryside. These songs, stories and illustrations were turned into 2 manuscripts. However, when a mutual friend introduced Alexander to British author John Ruskin, the trajectory of her career changed. Ruskin bought the unfinished Tuscan Songs manuscripts. Ruskin made drastic changes to the manuscript (changing the name to Roadside Songs) and did not properly pay Alexander for the work she did. Luckly, Alexander's mother tracked down all elements of the original manuscript.  

Despite the changes, the book was a success and even Vernon Lee knew of Roadside Songs. In a letter to Isabella Stewart Gardner, Lee references the story of Saint Zita, a folio in Roadside Songs. Lee uses the story of Saint Zita as inspiration for her 1905 book Sister Benvenuta. Alexander also knew Vernon Lee, praising her efforts to stop the destruction of historic Florence.  

We would like to thank Jacqueline Marie Musacchio for her research and conference she presented at Il Palmerino.

Grace Lucas