Charlotte Dubray  Charlotte Besnard (25 April 1854 – 15 March 1931), born Charlotte Dubray, was a French sculptor. She is perhaps best known as the wife of the successful painter Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934), whose career she did much to advance. Although she was well known for her own work in her day, she has since been largely forgotten. Charlotte-Gabrielle Dubray was born in Paris on 25 April 1854. Her parents were (1818–1892), a sculptor, and Jeanne Aglaë Cecconi (1820–1896). Her father had a successful career under the Second French Empire (1851–70), executed many commissions and became a member of the Legion of Honour. Vital Dubray taught sculpture to two of his daughters, Charlotte and Giovanna. At this time sculpture was considered a less noble art than painting, a rough and dirty trade akin to artisan stonecutting, that generally required a public or private sponsor to cover the cost. Women sculptors were rare and had to have strong and determined characters. Charlotte studied sculpture under Mlle Fanny Dubois-Davesnes. She was not able to attend the École des Beaux-Arts, which was reserved for men until 1897. She first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1869. She managed to spend time studying art in Rome thanks to her sponsors and patrons the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland. She met her future husband in Rome. Her "La Fille de Jephté pleurant sur la montagne" ("The daughter of Jephthah crying on the mountain"), exhibited at the 1876 Salon, was created in Rome. On 19 November 1879 Charlotte Dubray married the painter Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934). She was his second wife. The young couple made their first home in London, where Charlotte had introductions to the English aristocracy and gained some success. Albert Besnard was disconcerted when he was addressed as "Mr. Dubray". However, Charlotte obtained commissions for him to make large portraits of notable English people. They had four children: Robert (1881–1914) painter; Germaine (1884–1975) sculptor and painter; Philippe (1885–1971) sculptor; and Jean (1889–1958) ceramic artist. Charlotte gave sculpture lessons to her son Philippe Besnard, who then went to Rome and studied under Henri Bouchard (1875–1960).