Georges Alexandre Lucien Boisselier (1876 - 1943)

Georges Alexandre Lucien Boisselier was a French painter in the academic style, known mainly for his portraits and genre scenes. The son of a draughtsman, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris at the age of 14, where he trained under Gabriel Ferrier, before continuing his apprenticeship at the Académie Julian under the tutelage of William Bouguereau.

Initially attracted by historical, biblical and mythological themes, he soon turned to portrait painting, becoming one of the favourite portraitists of high society. Boisselier exhibited regularly at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1898 and won the second Grand Prix de Rome in 1903 with his work Le Retour de l'Enfant prodigue.

In 1911, he moved to Penmarc'h in Brittany, where he built a house and later a villa called ‘Ker Loÿs’, inspired by the local fishermen's houses. A keen archaeologist, he helped create the Museum of Prehistory at Pors Carn, which he curated from 1932 to 1939.

In 1923, he was made a knight of the Légion d'Honneur in recognition of his artistic work. Georges Boisselier died in Paris in 1943 without having had any children or having married.