Born in Normandy in 1870, Maurice Denis studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian in Paris. At the Académie Julian, Denis met Sérusier, Bonnard, Ranson and Ibels with whom he formed the Nabis.
Denis drew much of his subject matter from his immediate surroundings and many of his works have a religious theme. In 1919 he established the Ateliers d’Art Sacré which was dedicated to reviving Christian art.