Simonau was born in Bornhem, Austrian Netherlands on 26 May 1783. He studied in Bruges (with either Robert Frickx or Bernard Fricx [nl], according to different sources)[1][2] and between 1808 and 1812 was a pupil of Antoine-Jean Gros in Paris.[1] In 1815 he settled in London together with his brother Pierre.[3] The latter established a successful lithographic business; François concentrated on portrait-painting, with the help of Sir Thomas Lawrence, who introduced him to London society.[1][3] He prospered, and exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution from 1818.[2]
Simonau supplemented his commissions with a small but flourishing art school in Commercial Road, east of the City of London. Among his pupils was Emma Jones. In 1818 her mother, Elizabeth Jones, a wealthy widow, offered Simonau sufficient financial inducement to drop his other students and concentrate entirely on her daughter. In 1820 Simonau and Elizabeth Jones were married. They settled in Greek Street, Soho, with Emma and her brother Newton.[4]
In 1835 the chef Alexis Soyer asked Simonau to paint his portrait; Simoneau delegated the task to his stepdaughter. Soyer fell in love with her, she soon reciprocated, and to Simonau's chagrin – "a mere cook!" – they married in 1837.[5] After Elizabeth Simonau died in 1839 Simonau went to live with the Soyers at their flat in Charing Cross Road.[6]
Simonau outlived his stepdaughter and her husband, and in his last years was in reduced circumstances. Lord Palmerston arranged a pension for him.[7] He died on 26 November 1859; as he had wished, he was buried at Kensal Green cemetery alongside his stepdaughter and her husband.[7]
