Lot Essay
Perrault is known as a genre and portrait painter. Born in Poitiers, he showed an early interest in the arts and is known to have painted portraits by the age of fourteen. His talent was evident early and he was later asked to assist in restoring the mural paintings in the church of St. Radegonde. By 1853 he enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux Arts where he studied under Picot and Bouguereau. The latter was to make a lasting impression on the young Perrault's style in rendering the human form.
Perrault made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1861, where he received medals in 1864, 1867 and 1878. He was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and received a diploma of honor in Vienna in 1873.
Perrault made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1861, where he received medals in 1864, 1867 and 1878. He was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and received a diploma of honor in Vienna in 1873.