A Life in France Jean Diffre began his life in Chambéry, where he was born in 1864. His path as an artist took him to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse, a place that would shape much of his early development. While studying there, he worked under the guidance of Garipuy, learning the foundations of the craft that would define his later years. His time in Toulouse was marked by the discipline of formal training. He participated in competitions and exhibitions, as evidenced by markings left on his canvases from his student days. By the time he reached maturity, his presence was felt within t…