Son of a master mason, Granet received early artistic training from J.-A. Constantin (1756-1844) at the free drawing academy in Aix. A fellow pupil was the highborn <a href=" https://findartvalue.com/artist/louis-nicolas-philippe-auguste-de-forbin">Auguste de Forbin</a> (1777-1841), who became his most important friend and patron. In 1793, Granet participated in the siege of Toulon, where he met