Brief Biography-Jean Antoine Théodore Giroust was born in Bussy Saint Georges, France. He entered the atelier of Joseph Marie Vien who also tutored Joseph-Benoit Suvée and Jacques-Louis David. When Vien left for Rome, Giroust studied under Nicolas Bernard Lépicié. After visiting Rome with Vien, he became a member of the Academy.
The girl playing the harp in the painting The Harp lesson is the daughter of Duc d’Orléans, future King Louis Philippe. Giroust was his aide de camp in the military until Duc d’Orléans got arrested for conspiring with counter-revolutionaries. Then, in 1793, he retired to a rural area beside Vivier; the French revolution had changed his fortunes. Giroust painted less, and in 1808 he was elected town Mayor of Serres. He last exhibited in 1802, and he died in 1817 in Vivier.