Pierre Cécile Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1898) was a French painter of the second half of the 19th century, considered a precursor of Symbolism.
His name is associated with the large-scale mural and decorative frescoes, often allegorical, that adorn staircases, walls and galleries in prestigious locations (museums, town halls, libraries) in Amiens, Paris, Marseille, Poitiers, Lyon and Boston.
His work exerted a recognized influence on young painters such as Odilon Redon, Henri Martin, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat and Maurice Denis. It can also be seen in a number of early works by the young Pablo Picasso.