Firmin Massot (5 May 1766, Geneva – 16 May 1849, Geneva); Swiss portrait painter. The son of a master watchmaker, he began his studies at the age of 12, later attending classes at the Société des Arts de Genève where he studied with Jean-Étienne Liotard, among others. He traveled in Italy from 1787 to 1788 and the following year exhibited for the first time at Geneva's Salon; at the next Salon, he won the Grand Prize. He married in 1795 and he and his wife would have 3 children. In 1799, he was named director of the Écoles de dessin de la ville de Genève and, one year later, became a member of the Société des Arts. From 1807 to 1813, he traveled throughout France, making contacts with fellow artists, François Gérard and Jean-Baptiste Isabey among them. And from 1828 to 1829, he toured England and Scotland, receiving many commissions along the way. Until 1820, many of his portraits were done in collaboration with the landscape painter Wolfgang-Adam Töpffer and the animal painter Jacques-Laurent Agasse. Massot painted the figures while his associates filled in the backgrounds with various items and symbols particular to the sitter. Perhaps because of this teamwork, very few of his paintings are signed and attribution has proved difficult. Approximately 250 works by his hand have been authenticated. He was commissioned by many illustrious clients, including Madame Recamier, the Empress Joséphine and her daughter, Queen Hortense. After a long and successful career, he died in the place of his birth at the age of 83. His elder sister, Jeanne-Pernette Schenker-Massot was also an artist, a successful miniaturist. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmin_Massot) undefined

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