He was a painter of portraits, genre, animal and landscape scenes. He was born in Briancon, France high in the Alps, on May 12, 1833. In the year, around 1846, he moved with his family to Lyon, France. In 1847, he entered the l’ Ecole des Beaux-Arts. His professors that he studied with while at the school were Michel-Philibert Genod (1792-1862) and Claude Bonnefond (1796-1860). Chenu also worked with the animal painter Jean Baptiste Louis Guy (1824-1888).

Early in his career as an amateur painter he painted mural decoration to make a living. As time went on he started to paint the city and countryside around Lyon working with artists Jean Baptiste Beuchot (1821-) and Joseph Benoit Guichard (1806-1880). He made his debut in Lyon at the Salon of 1854 and 1855. The paintings were “Annibal d defait les Romains a Cannes” and “Effet du Matin”. In 1867, he debut at the Paris Salon with “Sur le quai” and “La neige”, Alexandre Dumas (19th c. critic) noted these works.

Chenu became famous for his paintings of the snow, combining the environments of both Paris and Lyon. He died in Lyon on May 9, 1875.

Museums:
Musee de Lyon: “Plaine et Village d’ Champdor”

Listed:
E. Benezit, 2nd edition, page 709
Thieme/Becker, vol. 5/6, page 459
Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, Bryan Michael