A famous French and American flower painter, Paul de Longpre (1855-1911) was the most significant watercolor specialist to arrive in Los Angeles in the late 19th century and became the city's first major still-life painter.
It is likely he was the first southern California painter to earn a major national reputation.
He was born in Lyons, France, where he was a member of the aristocratic, although not wealthy, Maucherat de Longpre family.