He is primarily known for portraits, history paintings and mythological scenes, but also created numerous religious works. Some sources incorrectly call him Jean-Perrin. At the age of six, he became a drum major in the "Régiment Royal-Bonbons", a children"s branch of the French Guards which was intended to provide "manly, patriotic training", but also served as a form of amusement for the Dauphin.
Granger worked as an engraver for seven years, but eventually felt constrained by the limits of that medium and entered the studios of Jean-Baptiste Regnault to study oil painting.
Four years later, he worked closely with Jacques-Louis David. His colleague, Ingres, who came in second, accused David of using his influence on the jury.
While in Rome, he worked for Lucien Bonaparte, making sketches and paintings of the Prince"s antiquities collection. He also began a portrait of Bonaparte"s wife, Maria Letizia, but he (and some others) found it unsatisfactory, so he turned it into a painting of an anonymous lady of the court.
Her portrait was painted by Ingres, who had apparently gotten over his grudge and become her godfather.
lieutenant is currently on display at the Maison de Victor Hugo.