The Académie de la Grande Chaumière was founded in 1904 by the Swiss Martha Stettler and taken over in 1957 by the Charpentier family.

Two workshops based on live models, with one for painting and drawing and the other for sketching, welcome hundreds of artists from around the world.

We could count on gifted teachers, such as Bourdelle, Zadkine, Despiau or even Fernand Léger. But also on the artists who studied there, such as Giacometti, Calder, Eileen Gray or even Serge Gainsbourg.

As for the rue de la Grande Chaumière, it got its name from the ball de la Grande Chaumière which was located on the other side of the boulevard de Montparnasse.

It is a very appreciated and rejoicing place frequented by many Parisians. Its location outside of Paris at the time is justified by the desire not to pay Paris city customs and offer cheaper entertainment to customers.

This garden ball was created in 1788 and existed for sixty years. A small house with a thatched roof was then frequented by the military and mostly penniless students. It was later replaced by a two-floor house coupled to a restaurant.

The chahut-cancan is said to have been invented here. The owner of the place, Father Lahire, was a former grenadier of the Guard with tremendous strength and a fussy "guardian of public morals".

The Grande Chaumière ball closed its doors in 1853 and is now completely forgotten by most Parisians.

As for the rue de la Grande Chaumière, it got its name from the ball de la Grande Chaumière which was located on the other side of the boulevard de Montparnasse.

It is a very appreciated and rejoicing place frequented by many Parisians. Its location outside of Paris at the time is justified by the desire not to pay Paris city customs and offer cheaper entertainment to customers.