Man Rescues Beloved Fasianos Painting Amid California Wildfires, Sparking Emotional Response

In a heartwarming act of preservation, Los Angeles resident Francois Auroux was captured on NBC's camera fleeing a raging California wildfire on his bicycle, tightly clutching a painting by renowned Greek artist Alekos Fasianos. This poignant moment has since sparked an outpouring of gratitude from the artist's family.

The video of Auroux's daring escape with the cherished artwork quickly went viral on social media. Speaking to CNN, he revealed that he had lost all his possessions in the devastating wildfires, managing to salvage only a few personal photographs and the treasured Fasianos painting.

The incident, which underscored the deep sentimental value of the painting to Francois Auroux, prompted the artist's daughter and manager of his works, Victoria Fasianou, and her mother, Mariza, to track down the man who had evacuated his Pacific Palisades home while safeguarding the beloved work of the renowned Greek painter.

"He's an American who owned the painting. We didn't know who he was, but we wanted to find him to send a message of support, as he's going through a tough time," Mariza Fasianou said. "The painting belonged to his mother, which is why he wanted to save it. It held deep sentimental value, and amid the devastation, he chose to keep it."

To express their gratitude, the Fasianou family has decided to send Auroux a print titled "The Coffee Drinkers," a classic Greek scene that Alekos Fasianos cherished, which they believe his mother would have also loved. "When he eventually moves into a new home, he'll have something from us," Mariza Fasianou added.

Auroux, a lawyer, has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to rebuild his life after losing everything in the fire. During an interview, he recounted the harrowing experience of returning to his neighborhood to check on his home and ultimately deciding to save the precious Fasianos painting.

"I decided to go back, after my whole family had evacuated to check on the house and help. But I had no idea the fire had grown to such an extent. I didn't expect the flames to have actually reached the heart of the city. I thought it would be more contained, on the outskirts. But this fire was very different, it's being called a 'fire-hurricane,' traveling at 50-100 miles an hour," he explained.

The emotional significance of saving this particular painting was not lost on Auroux, who shared the deep family connection to Alekos Fasianos and the artwork. "My grandfather, Albert Auroux, was a dental surgeon in Paris and personally knew Alekos Fasianos. He was his doctor, but they also saw each other often and shared a friendly relationship. The area of Saint-Germain, where the two men frequented, was a small neighborhood at the time. My grandfather loved Fasianos' work and owned several of his silk screens. That's why my whole family loves his paintings. My mother bought this particular silk screen, 'The Cyclist' from a gallery in Paris and it's her favorite. She loved the carefree image portrayed in the painting, which is why she chose it."

Since the video of his daring rescue went viral, Auroux has been overwhelmed by a wave of support, not only from his local community in Los Angeles but also from Greece, where the artist's family and admirers have reached out to express their gratitude. "We often hear about fires in Greece, in forests and even in cities. You've had so many victims, just like here in California. We share the same dry climate, with strong winds coming off the sea, and we have the same concerns. The planet is warming, and the threshold has been crossed," Auroux said, reflecting on the shared experiences of the two countries facing the devastating impacts of climate change.