Henri Rousseau

French artist, the most celebrated painter of recent French art with dreamlike clarity and an innate sense of design. He is known best for his jungle scenes. He began by copying pictures in the Louvre, moving into his natural spontaneity; first exhibited in 1886. His work included "The Sleeping Gypsy" and "The Jungle." He also wrote poetry and composed music. His art was appreciated only at the end of his life.

Rousseau was known as "Le Douanier Rousseau," referring to a job he held with the Paris Customs Office from 1871-1893, although he never actually rose to the rank of "Douanier" (Customs officer). Prior to this, he had served in the army, and had claimed to have seen service in Mexico, though the story seems to be largely imaginary.

He took up painting as a hobby, then took early retirement from the customs office in 1893 so he could devote himself to his art. Though he tried to follow traditional artists, it was the innocence and charm of his work that won him the admiration of the avant-garde: in 1908, Picasso gave a banquet in his honor.

He never lost faith in his own abilities, despite great poverty. On 9 January 1909, he was sentenced to a fine and two years imprisonment for bank fraud, but the sentence was dismissed because of his age.

He was married twice. His first wife, Clemence Bailard, bore him seven children, none of whom lived. After her death, he married a widow Josephine-Rosalie Nourry, in 1899. She died in 1903.

Henri Rousseau died on 4 September 1910 in Paris from blood poisoning. He was 66.