Camille Pissarro was born on 10 July 1830 on the island of St. Thomas to Frederick and Rachel Manzano de Pissarro. Pissarro was one of the most renowned French Impressionist painters of the 19th century. During his formative years Pissarrro studied at the Savary Academy in Passy near Paris. While in school Pissarro developed a solid grounding towards painting and drawing, and was instructed by Monsieur Savary to observe nature as part of his artist discipline. Pissarro returned to St. Thomas where he drew in his free time.