Pierre-Auguste Brunet-Houard Français, 1827-1922

French genre, animal, and military painter

Born in 1827 or 1829 in Saint‑Maixent‑l’École, Brunet‑Houard initially embarked on an administrative career before turning to painting and studying under Thomas Couture. He made his Salon debut in 1861 and settled in Fontainebleau, where he also championed the protection of the surrounding forest.

He traveled extensively across the Mediterranean basin—Italy, Greece, Constantinople—and these journeys enriched his varied oeuvre. He became known for circus and fairground scenes, military compositions, and animal studies featuring cavalry, horse-drawn teams, and dogs. His work captures moments with documentary accuracy and a compelling realism.

A regular exhibitor until 1906, Brunet‑Houard served as vice-president of an artistic preservation committee in Fontainebleau. In his later years, he published personal memoirs. He died in 1922 in Fontainebleau, leaving behind a legacy that intertwines rural life, popular entertainment, and military scenes.