André Bauchant was born in Touraine, France, and lived most of his life in this small town between Tours and Blois. He was a good student, with a particular love for classics and geography. Although he left school at the age of 14 to work as a farmer, he continued to educate himself by reading history and mythology, traveling throughout France, studying architecture, maps and telemetry. This self-education is reflected in the historical compositions that Bauchant painted in the first decade of his artistic career.

Bauchant served in the army during World War I, employed first as an accountant and then as a draftsman. He was a quick study, and was soon put in charge of charting and rangefinding. His experiences in the Army encou...