Education
In 1887, he enrolled at the Académie Julian, where he studied with Tony Robert-Fleury.
In 1887, he enrolled at the Académie Julian, where he studied with Tony Robert-Fleury.
He displayed an early talent for art and left the family"s millinery business to paint in the countryside. There, he was noticed by Frédéric Montenard, the noted Provençal painter, who was impressed with his work and encouraged him to study in Paris. In 1890, his canvas "Louisiana rade de Toulon: effet de mistral" (The Harbor at Toulon, Mistral effect) was purchased by the French government and his career was launched.
Over the next ten years, he was invited to participate in several international exhibitions, inlcluding the World"s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
He was escpecially supportive of foreign artists studying in France, such as Emanuel Phillips Fox, East. Irving Couse and Umberto Veruda. In 1891, upon the recommendation of Montenard, he accepted the well-known Brazilian painter Giovanni Battista Castagneto as a student, showing him how to brighten his palette and paint maritime subjects.
Final years
In 1909, he suffered an attack of hemiplegia which restricted his ability to paint, especially outside of his studio. President Jean Jaurès paid a visit during a campaign tour to offer his sympathy.
Retiring to Toulon, he lost all interest in his old associates, exhibitions and honors of any sort, although he continued to paint and give art lessons to a few selected students.
He returned to Paris only once, in 1931, at the urging of his friends, to participate in a show at the Salon des Artistes Français. But, by then, he was virtually forgotten. Five years later, he died in his studio.
An elementary school in Toulon has been named after him.
