French 1855-
Desbordes-Jonas was born in Angers. She was a student of the well known Belle Epoque painter Alfred Stevens.
The artist exhibited at the Paris salon from 1876 onwards. Some of the works she exhibited included: “Plants Exotique” in 1890 and a painting entitled “Fleurs” (Flowers) in 1894. She received honorable mentions at the Salon in 1880 and 1889.
She became a member of the Societé des Artistes Francais in 1883.
As well, she exhibited at the Dijon salon in 1894. . One work is conserved in the Musèe of Gray entitled Meduse or Legende des Algues.
Desbordes-Jonas can be classified amongst genre painters and Symbolist painters, as attested to by the titles of the paintings which she exhibited at the Paris Salon, including The Night and The Song of Water, or her painting in the Musee of Gray entitled Medusa or The Legend of the Seaweed, but she’s also known as a painter of flowers who evokes the spirit of of the great Symbolist painter Odilon Redon.
It was not uncommon for women artists to specialize in floral painting.
The great 19th century French art dealer Georges Petit commissioned her to decorate the ceiling of his private home.
