dumont was born at lunéville (meurthe), and was left an orphan when young, with five brothers and sisters to support. he was for a while a student under jean girardet, and then, on. the advice of a lunville academician, madame coster, set up a studio for himself. in 1784 he journeyed to rome, returning after four years careful study, and in 1788 was accepted as an academician and granted an apartment in the louvre. he married marie-nicole, the daughter of antoine vestier, the miniature painter, and had two sons, aristide and bias, both of whom became painters.