Académie de la Grande Chaumière

Founded in 1902, this art school, in Montparnasse, Paris which is located a few doors away from its 'rival' Académie Colarossi operated as a 'free' academy, where art students, both professional and amateur alike could enter to draw and paint at will. Started by Swiss national Martha Stettler (1870–1946), she refused to teach the strict academic rules of painting of the École-des-Beaux-Arts. In 1957 it was sold to the Charpentier family and called accordingly Académie Charpentier.

Illustrious members of staff have included Antoine Emile Bourdelle, (1861-1929) Jacques Emile Blanche, Achille-Emile Othon Friesz (1879-1949), (1879-1949) Lucien Simon, (1861-1945) Fernand Léger, (1881-1955) André Lhote, (1885-1962), Ossip Zadkine, (1888-1967) and Walter Sickert was, for a time, a weekly tutor. The Academy's alumni list is equally as impressive and has included Boris Anrep, Alexander Calder, Tamara de Lempicka, Josefina de Vasconcellos, Alberto Giacometti, Isabel Rawsthorne, Amedeo Modigliani, Serge Poliakoff, Nano Reid, Balthus, Joan Miró and Russian designer and painter Alexandra Exter.