Raymond Monvoisin (known as Quinsac-Monvoisin)

Nationality: French

1790 - 1870

After studying at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, and spending five years in Rome (1820–1825), Monvoisin returned to Paris to exhibit successfully at the Salon for the next 15 years. Constant friction with both his peers and his superiors resulted in his self-exile to South America from 1842 to 1857. At the time of his departure, his paintings were removed from public view and put into storage. While he was able to establish himself as a portrait painter in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Panama, his reputation in France never recovered, and he died largely forgotten.

Place of Birth: Bordeaux
Place of Death: Boulogne-sur-Seine

Text written and researched by Michelle Bird National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.