Pierre Francois Chenu, later Peter Francis Chenu, was born in Paris in Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs (October 1, 1760), into a family of sculptors. His father was Nicolas-Francois Chenu, a sculptor and an assistant professor and exhibitor at the Academie de Saint-Luc. His mother was Marie-Francoise Marchandon, the daughter of another sculptor from the same academy, Firmin Marchandon.
In 1778, aged 18, Pierre Francois was a student at the Academie Royale de Peinture et Sculpture in Paris and is mentioned in their archive from then until 1782 after which there is no more mention of him. He is a native of Paris, a student of M. Allegrain and lives at the house of his father in Rue Neuve Street Martin president Le Temple. He exhibited at the Academy from 1788 until 1822.
In 1778 he hired a studio at 28 Great Castle Street, moving in 1790 to 3 Wardour Street.
In 1794 he hired a larger studio at 122 Wardour Street. Following success he moved to 23 Charles Street where he stayed 1802 until 1822.
His last address was 1 Union Street, Lambeth. In 1805 he is recorded as having purchased busts by his contemporaries, Peter Scheemakers and Thomas Banks.
He retired in 1822. He died on 31 August 1834 and his will was read on 10 September 1834.
The estate included shares in Covent Garden Theatre. He is known to have trained Peter Turnerelli, William Behnes and Patrick MacDowell.
