Oil on canvas.

Jane Fiorentini Steward is an American artist of Florentine/Roman Italian ancestry. She has painted for over 30 years and has had studios in New York City, Salem, MA. and now Sarasota, FL.

The amazing life of Sarah Parker Remond so inspired Jane and connected her to her Florentine name and ancestry. She painted the portrait of Sarah over two years, from 2017 to 2019. It was painted in her home studio at 215 Lafayette Street, bordering the Saltonstall school, now the Sarah Parker Remond School.  

Displayed in the painting are motifs symbolizing Salem: a brick archway, a table holding Sarah’s books and a doctor’s stethoscope, and in the background the view of Florence, Italy where she practiced medicine as one of the first female doctors.

Mayor Dominick Pangallo and the City of Salem Announce Sarah Parker Remond Portrait for New School

Salem City NewsPosted on June 06, 2026

Mayor Dominick Pangallo and the City of Salem are proud to announce that, in commemoration of Sarah Parker Remond’s 200th birthday – June 6, 2026 – and in partnership with acclaimed artist Jane Fiorentini Steward, a fine-art giclée reproduction of the 2017 oil-on-canvas portrait of abolitionist and Salem native Sarah Parker Remond will be created for the new Sarah Parker Remond School. The original work currently hangs on the second floor of Salem City Hall directly outside the Mayor’s Office and City Council Chambers. 

This exceptional and unique portrait was rendered with care and attention to detail, based on the only known photograph of Ms. Remond. The artist generously donated the original painting to the City of Salem on July 1, 2022, ensuring its place as a lasting tribute to one of Salem’s most influential historical figures. 

The forthcoming reproduction will be crafted true to the original work and will be produced as a single-edition artist print. It will be prominently installed in the new Sarah Parker Remond School for the start of the 2026-27 academic year. 

This initiative is part of Salem’s 400+ celebrations and serves as a meaningful way to honor Sarah Parker Remond’s 200th birthday. Through this installation, the City aims to deepen public awareness of Remond’s legacy as a pioneering abolitionist, lecturer, and advocate for equality. 

“Sarah Parker Remond’s life and work remain profoundly relevant today,” said Mayor Pangallo. “We are so proud to further elevate her legacy as a woman born here in Salem with impact throughout the world, and we are honored to partner with Jane Fiorentini Steward to bring this powerful image into a space where it can inspire students and visitors for generations to come. I am so grateful to City staff and to the artist for helping us to do so. I hope all who walk through the front doors of the Sarah Parker Remond School into the future will be inspired by this portrait to carry forward her advocacy, her ideas, and her hopes for a more equitable world for all.” 

Also in conjunction with Sarah Parker Remond’s 200th birthday and Salem’s 400+ anniversary, the City of Salem’s Juneteenth Jam Party in the Park on June 19th will open with a keynote address delivered by History Alive’s historical reenactment of Sarah Parker Remond. Juneteenth Jam takes place Friday, June 19th at 11:30am in Charlotte Forten Park, followed by a full day of fun activities!  For a complete schedule and to learn more about the City of Salem’s Juneteenth celebrations, visit: https://salemma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/384.

For the past few months I’ve been working on a posthumous portrait of a 95 yr old woman of great character and life. (She lived to 100). I had the honor of knowing her over the years and I was happy, but daunted  to take on the challenge of painting only from photographs.  I had a good digital one of the subject in bright sunlight (but unfortunately squinting into the sun).  My task was to interpret her eyes and what I knew they conveyed in other moments. It helped a great deal that I knew her remarkable personality.  So I painted that interpretation– still keeping the pose in tact.  The result was quite good, and the work will be added to the website when the background and glazing are complete.

Her son was quite happy.  Ideally, I like to have a number of sittings as well as some good photos.  It is an acquired skill to be able to read or interpret something not necessarily visible at the time.  These are the ‘hidden qualities’ that reveal the inner person.  The great masters  (Rembrandt, Titian, Velasquez)  certainly had  this ability. In my way I try to capture those qualities.

Evolution of a Vision: “Vino Toscano”

The painting ‘Vino Toscana’ was inspired by a photo taken on vacation in Tuscany. Here is that photo which was the actual view from the patio– just outside the door of our brick cottage in an old winery (now a small inn). It was our favorite spot, the family cats came to play as we drank our wine and enjoyed the view.

This is the painting after a few sessions (early stage). For landscapes of greenish tones I often start with a canvas toned in ‘sienna’ , as it lends warmth and contrast & vibrancy to the green tones. In this case I really wanted to include most of what was in the photo—to remember it as a cherished time. I would be able to offer this service as a commission, if
the digital image you have is suitable.

“Vino Toscana” is the finished painting that hangs in our home. Whenever I look at it, I’m transported