Alongside Nicolae Tonitza, Ștefan Dimitrescu, and Oscar Han, he was one of the Grupul celor patru ("Group of four"), some of the leading Romanian visual artists in the first half of the 20th century.

Francisc Șirato (Sirató Ferenc) was born in 1877 in Craiova to an ethnic Hungarian family of petty craftsmen, originally from the Banat area.

Initially working in the realm of graphic design, he turned to painting and began studying in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1898; however, due to financial difficulties, he was unable to enrol in painting courses, so began to make money as an engraving apprentice.

In the interwar period, he dedicated himself increasingly to painting, and established the "Group of four" ("Grupul celor patru") with Nicolae Tonitza, Ștefan Dimitrescu, and Oscar Han.

[2] In addition to painting and graphic design, Șirato also worked as an art critic, contributing articles to the journals Cugetul Românesc and Sburătorul.