édouard manet was born in paris on 23 january 1832, to a wealthy family. as he grew up, his uncle encouraged him to paint and draw, but his father wanted him to join the navy. eventually he was allowed to be trained as a painter. manet worked from 1850 to 1856 in the studio of the academic painter thomas couture a painter of large historical paintings. in his spare time he copied the old masters in the louvre.