Background
He was born in Versailles and became prominent in the years between World War I and World World War World War II
He was born in Versailles and became prominent in the years between World War I and World World War World War II
He studied in Paris at the academies in Montparnasse starting in 1924, and then at the École des Beaux-Arts.
He first exhibited in the salons of 1927, and then traveled to Spain, where the masterpieces in the Prado Museum had a profound influence on him. He settled back in Paris in 1934, organizing his first solo exhibition. He remained in occupied Paris during World World War World War II After the war, he traveled widely to Mexico, Egypt, Iran, Greece, Russia, the United States and Japan, trying to capture the light and colors of each country.
He was interested in the techniques of copper plate engraving and lithography and produced illustrations for editions of such authors as Charles Baudelaire and Paul Claudel.
He also created murals and wall ornamentations, tapestry cartoons, maquettes, sets, and costumes for the Théâtre Français and the operas of Paris, Amsterdam, Nice, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Avignon. He was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1957.
He was also president of the Salon d"Automne for five years and curator of the Musée Marmottan in Paris for 11 years. He died in Paris.