Luigi Loir (1845–1916) was born on December 22, 1845, in Goritz, Austria, and became one of the most celebrated painters of Parisian urban life in the late 19th century. Loir began his formal art education in 1853 at the Beaux-Arts Academy, and upon completing his studies in 1865, he submitted his first work, Paysage à Villiers-sur-Seine, to the Salon de Paris, earning high acclaim. He then apprenticed under Jean Amable Amédée Pastelot (1810–1870), a prominent muralist, who helped Loir develop both his skills in mural painting and his sensitivity to capturing the human figure.

Although he became a sought-after ceiling and mural painter—receiving commissions such as the murals at the Châteaux du Diable in 1866—Loir is best known for his oils, watercolors, and lithographs depicting the daily life of Parisians. His street scenes, boulevards, and urban festivities captured the rhythms and vibrancy of Parisian life. Works such as Les Préparatifs de la Fête Foraine, Le Marché à la Ferraille, La Rue de la Pitié, and La Vue du Val de Grâce were acquired by the city of Paris, while the Empress of Russia reportedly purchased his watercolor The Celebration of the Throne.

During the military campaign of 1870, Loir was charged with recording battles at Bouret, but he focused almost exclusively on painting the streets and boulevards of Paris. His acute observational skills and meticulous technique earned him the appointment of official painter of the Boulevards of Paris, solidifying his reputation. Loir was awarded the Bronze Medal from the Exposant Fidèle des Artistes Français in 1879 and was elected to the Legion of Honor in 1898. He passed away in Paris on February 9, 1916, leaving behind a legacy of works that celebrated both the architecture and the daily life of the city.