Jean-Baptiste Le Paon was born in 1736 or 1738 in the outskirts of Paris. At the beginning of the Seven Years’ War he enlisted in the French dragoons and served in the Hanover campaign, but became injured. Following his discharge in 1756, he showed some of his battle sketches to Francois Boucher and Carle van Loo. At their recommendation, he began study with painter Francesco Casanova. Le Paon first exhibited at the Salon in 1779. He soon established himself as a painter of military scenes and became principal painter to the Prince of Conde, decorating the Bourbon Palace and the Ecole Militaire with battle scenes.