Georges Rouault grew up in an artistic environment. His father was a cabinetmaker and his grandfather an art aficionado. He studied at l'École des Arts Décoratifs and started his career as a glazier. In 1891, he entered Paris's School of Fine Arts where he attended Gustave Moreau's courses and with whom he became close.
Read MoreGeorges Rouault's first artworks are mainly watercolours characterised by vivid colours, which explains why he has sometimes been associated to the Fauvist movement.
After World War I, he started practising oil painting and focused on religious scenes; reminiscence of his training as a glazier. During World War II and afterwards, Georges Rouault painted a series of clowns and still lives.
State funeral was given to the one who is still nowadays considered as one of the most important religious painters of the 20th century.