The son of Romain-Théodore Hersent, a silversmith, Louis Hersent was sent to learn the art of painting in the studio of <a href=" https://findartvalue.com/artist/jean-baptiste-baron-regnault">Jean-Baptiste Regnault</a> (1754-1829). He achieved second place for the Prix de Rome in 1797 but became seriously ill the following year and was forced to withdraw from the studio. He then briefly ventured i