Chronology

1867 October 3 Pierre Bonnard was born at Fontenay-aux-Roses, near Paris, into the family of a high-ranking official in the French War Ministry.

1886 Enters the University of Paris to study law.

1887 Enrolls for evening classes at the Académie Julian, a liberal Parisian art school. He makes friends with Paul Sérusier, Mauris Denis, Henri Ibels and Paul Ranson . The five friends form a society known as Nabiim or the Nabis after the Hebrew for 'prophets'.

1888 He enters the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.

1889 Bonnard wins a competition to design a poster advertising French champagne.

1891 Bonnard starts exhibiting paintings at the Salon des Indépendants.

1900 Goes to the countryside between Paris and Normandy.

1906 Bonnard begins to have annual one-man exhibitions, the Bernheim-Jeune art-dealing firm signed an exclusive contract for the exhibition of his works.

1918 He is made the honorary president of a society of young French painters.

1926 Bonnard buys a house named 'Le Bosquet' at Le Cannet on the Céte d'Azur where he stays till his death. Makes a trip to America.

1937 He decorates the French pavilion at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.

1945 He visits Paris.

1947 January 23 Bonnard dies.