Claudia Bret-Charbonnier

A student of Cabanel, Medard and most likely the Lyonese flower painter Perrachon, Madame Bret-Charbonnier continued the important tradition of Flower Painters from Lyon dating back to the 18th century. Actively participating in the official Salons in Lyon beginning in 1885, in Paris from 1899 and in Dijon from 1890, the artist showed primarily flower paintings executed in oil, pastel and watercolor. A prolific, successful flower painter and influential teacher, her “Mare Fleurie” was purchased by the State of France for the Musee des Beaux-Arts of Lyon, in whose collection it now resides.

The catalog of the grand exhibition “Fleurs de Lyon” held at the Palais Saint-Pierre during the summer of 1982 revealed that in 1907 the studio of Bret-Charbonnier was one of the most frequented artists’ studios in Lyon.

The artist was awarded a second class medal at the Salon of Lyon in 1900. She became a member of the Societe des Artistes Francais and received a bronze medal in the Salon of 1914.