BIOGRAPHY

Juliette Prin (1891–1975)

Juliette Prin was a French painter, born on March 25, 1891, in Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau near Nantes. She grew up in Chantenay, a working-class and maritime district, where she lived her entire life on Rue du Bois Hardy. Single, independent, and deeply religious, she led a simple existence shaped by both art and faith, and was actively involved in the parish of Saint-Martin de Chantenay.

Her signature, “J. Prin,” has sometimes caused confusion, with several sales and catalogs mistakenly attributing her works to “Jeanne Prin.” Yet Juliette Prin’s sincere and demanding artistic approach made her a respected figure in her time. She exhibited regularly in Nantes, notably at the Mignon-Massart gallery.

A life devoted to painting

Juliette Prin painted throughout her life, exploring a wide variety of formats and subjects. She is best known for her bouquets and still lifes, but above all for her depictions of Brittany: ports, houses, doorways, and scenes of everyday life.

She often stayed in La Turballe, Piriac-sur-Mer, and Rochefort-en-Terre, places she represented abundantly in her work. She painted mostly outdoors, inspired by her walks and surroundings.

She also passed on her knowledge. Among her students was Jules Paressant, a physician and recognized amateur painter, who once said: “Juliette taught me everything.”

Family roots

Juliette Marie Joseph Prin was the daughter of Jules Prin (1861–1940), a clerk and later an accountant, and Rose Marie Peigné (1853–1924), a seamstress. Though born in her maternal grandmother’s home in Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau, she grew up and remained all her life in Chantenay.

Her father, a well-known local figure, founded in 1928 the Caisse Rurale Urbaine de Saint-Martin de Chantenay, serving as its first director until his death in 1940. Juliette, deeply attached to her family and her neighborhood, never left the house on Rue du Bois Hardy.

Faith and commitment

Juliette Prin was a devoted member of the parish of Saint-Martin de Chantenay. A 1943 issue of La Semaine Religieuse du diocèse de Nantes described her as an “untiring visitor of the work of baptisms in the parish for the past 25 years.” She served many times as a godmother and remained a discreet yet active figure in parish life.

Friendships and Breton stays

Juliette maintained a lifelong friendship with Simone Besnier, whom she had known since childhood. Their bond, almost familial, continued after Simone married Joseph You.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Juliette spent long stays with the You family in La Turballe and later in Lérat. There she painted, shared in family life, and even helped care for the children.

Keeping her memory alive

Today, around fifty of Juliette Prin’s works are identified in private collections, mainly within the You family and their circle.

Through this site, our aim is to revive her memory, retrace her artistic journey, and gather every possible trace of her work. Each testimony, document, or rediscovered painting helps shed light on this discreet yet profoundly sincere and talented Breton artist.