Leon Bonna French painter, collector Date of Birth: 20.06.1833 Country: France

Biography of Leon Joseph Florentin Bonnat

Leon Joseph Florentin Bonnat, a renowned French painter and collector, was born on June 20, 1833, in Bayonne. His full name was Leon Joseph Florentin Bonnat. During the period from 1846 to 1853, Leon lived in Madrid, where his father owned a bookstore. It was in Madrid where Bonnat began learning painting under the guidance of Raymond de Madrazo. Later, he continued his studies in Paris at the School of Fine Arts under the renowned artist Leon Cogniet.

In 1869, Bonnat received the Roman Prize, and as a laureate, he traveled to Rome for further studies. Upon his return to Paris, Bonnat embarked on a teaching career, working at the School of Fine Arts. In 1905, he became the director of the school. Bonnat gained significant recognition as a portraitist, depicting many famous individuals. His paintings brought him a considerable income, allowing him to invest a substantial amount of money in art acquisitions. Bonnat was a passionate collector.

Following Bonnat's death on September 8, 1922, according to his will, his hometown of Bayonne received a large collection of artworks. The collection included one of the finest assemblages of 19th-century drawings.