[Franchini; Francini; La Franchini]. Swiss family of stuccoists. Paul Lafranchini (b Birónico, nr Locarno, 17 Jan 1695; d 17 Jan 1776) worked for James Gibbs in England (1731 and 1736). In 1739 he was joined in Ireland by his brother Philip Lafranchini (b Birónico, 25 Aug 1702; d Ireland, before 28 June 1779) and worked on the saloon at Carton, Co. Kildare, where they executed a figurative ceiling depicting the Courtship of the Gods. They appear to have worked at 85 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin (1739), since the plasterwork in the saloon, which probably represents an Allegory on Good Government, is identical in theme and handling to Carton. In the same house a room decorated with Apollo and the Muses is probably also their work. The stucco in the saloon of Tyrone House, Dublin (c. 1745), is close to that of 85 St Stephen’s Green and has identical motifs (foliage, rosettes and birds) to that at Russborough, Co. Wicklow (after 1741).