Jean Beraud

Jean Beraud Biography:
Scenes of daily life painted by Jean Beraud reveal interest in Naturalism. Such diverse themes as crowds observing the funeral of Victor Hugo or studies of the interior of a Parisian Bank Apartment reflect aspects of French society during the Third Republic. Beraud was born of wealthy French parents in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where his father's career as a sculptor introduced him to the arts at early age. After his father's death the family moved to Paris (1853). Beraud thus received his by education at the Lycee Bonaparte. Studious and talented, he finished his degree in law before the Franco-Prussian War. During the siege of Paris he served in the army's Garde mobile de la Seine. It was not until after the war that Beraud decided to become a portrait artist. He entered the studio of Leon Bonnat (one of the leading painters of the Third Republic) and received training as a portraitist for the next two years. The six entries he exhibited at the 1873 Salon document his preference for portraits during the early part of his career making art, print and posters.  >>click here for more