Luigi Loir 1845-1916

Luigi Loir was the son of Tancrède François Loir and Thérèse Leban, his wife, who served respectively as valet and governess to the French royal family in exile in Austria. Settling in the Duchy of Parma in 1847, Loir began his artistic education at the École des Beaux-Arts of Parma in 1853.

A landscape painter, his first recognized work was Paysage à Villiers-sur-Seine (1865), produced two years after his return to Paris to be near his father. He gained prominence for his ceiling paintings and collaborated with Jean Pastelot (1820–1870). Loir also produced several commercial drawings, including for the LU biscuit company.

He distinguished himself during the Combats du Bourget from October 28 to 30 and in the Second Battle of Le Bourget during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Recognized for his artistic achievements, Luigi Loir was appointed Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur in 1898.