Biography

French painter, pastelist, and engraver. He lived all his life in Paris. In 1868 he trained initially as a singer, attending courses in the morning at the École des Beaux-Arts and studying for periods with Gérôme. He exhibited at the first time at the Salon in 1870. From 1871 he was rejected each time at the Salon until 1876, when he had a big success.

From the mid-1870s he was influenced by Monet and Sisley and changed to Impressionism, and in 1880 and 1881 he exhibited at the 5th and 6th Impressionist exhibitions. His painting is full of social criticism in his depictions of the poor areas of Paris, in their subdued tones his paintings are close to realism. He also painted portraits and later above all landscapes in and around Paris. In 1889 he received a gold medal at the World Fair.

He invented the Raffaëlli paint, which has the properties of both oils and watercolours.