Ferdinand Loyen du Puigaudeau was born in Nantes, As a young boy he was close to his uncle Henri de Chateaubriant, who encouraged his artistic pursuits. Ferdinand's education at various boarding schools from Paris to Nice. In 1882, the young man travelled to Italy, then to Tunisia. He travelled to Rome, Venice, and Florence and in 1886, like many young artists, du Puigaudeau settled in Pont Aven, the small Breton village that had become a popular destination for aspiring artists. It was here that he met Paul Gauguin, with whom he struck up an immediate and lasting friendship. Gauguin nicknamed him Piccolo and invited him to accompany him on his first trip to the South seas (Panama and Martinique) in 1887. Puigaudeau was unable to join his friend, as he had to join the army. Three years later Puigaudeau visited Belgium and there met the artists James Ensor, Toorop, Vogels and the sculptor Constantin Meunier. He also knew Degas, Monet, and Renoir. In 1895 the family settled in Pont-Aven and here Puigaudeau met Armand Seguin, the poet Emest Dowson, American painters Childe Hassam and Harrison. In 1897 Degas purchased his "Fireworks" at Durand-Ruel, and from that time they enjoyed a long friendship. Three years later the family moved in Cagnes; but despite the help of Durand-Ruel, Puigaudeau had to send his wife and daughter to Paris, so he could completely concentrate on his work. Next, he travelled to Africa, Germany, and Switzerland, and by the early 1900s during his most prestigious period, du Puigaudeau had held an exhibition at the Galerie des Artistes Moderrnse in Paris. Du Puigaudeau received a grant to travel which permitted him to visit Sweden and to return to Brittany where he settled permanently for the next thirty years. Bibliography Laurentin, Antoine, Ferdinand du Puigaudeau, Paris 1989 Museums: Musée de Pont Aven, Musee de Vanne