Yrjö Kaunisto was born in Vaasa in 1912 and Nanny Rivas was born in Hämeenlinna in 1911. They met in the 1930s at the University of Helsinki, where both had come to study medicine. They were married in 1937.
Yrjö Kaunisto specialised in surgery and urology, while Nanny Kaunisto’s field was opthamology. Both published several scientific articles in their fields. Viljo Revell designed a home for the Kaunisto’s in Kuusisaari. It was completed in 1964.
Yrjö Kaunisto died at home in 2004. At the age of 94, Nanny Kaunisto continues to do research on inherited diseases.
Art began to interest the couple in the early 1940s. As a young captain in the medical corps, Yrjö Kaunisto visited Helene Schjerfbeck at the Luontola convalescent home in Nummela, and bought his first paintings from her with flowers as the theme.
The Kaunistos continued to collect art through the decades at Helsinki art galleries and auctions. The most recent acquisitions were in 1994.
The childless couple were kept busy by their work, and art gave extra colour to their lives.
The most valuable paintings were kept on the walls of the bomb shelter of their Kuusisaari home.
Every day, as long as he was able to climb stairs, Yrjö Kaunisto would take a look at his beloved Schjerfbecks. His favourites were Circus Girl (1916) and Californian (1919).
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 10.11.2005
