ARTISTS / Boutet de Monvel, Louis Maurice

Most often referred to as simply Maurice Boutet de Monvel, he was perhaps the most popular French illustrator of the late nineteenth century whose drawings appeared in Century Magazine as well many other illustrated periodicals. He has been an inspiration for many illustrators of childrens' books. 

Maurice was born in Orléans, France, at mid-century. His father had a distinguished musical career creating tenor parts for the composers Rossini and Meyerbeer; his grandfather a captain of engineers in the French army which fought on behalf of the colonists in our Revolutionary War; and a direct descendant of celebrated French literary and theatrical personalities.

His son was the painter Bernard Boutet de Monvel, whose style owed much to Maurice.