Pierre Louis Rodolphe Julian born in Lapalud southeastern France was a French painter, etcher and professor, founder and director of the Académie Julian in Paris. The writer André Corthis (1882–1952), winner of the 1906 edition of the Prix Femina was his niece.

Julian worked as an employee in a bookstore in Marseille. He was interested in sports, particularly wrestling. Julian went to Paris, where he became a student of Léon Cogniet and Alexandre Cabanel, professor at the École des Beaux-Arts, without being enrolled there.

In 1863 he exhibited for the first time in the salons.

He married the painter Amélie Beaury-Saurel in 1895.

The challenges that he faced when in Paris led him to found in 1868, a private art academy, the Académie Julian, who also offered training to foreign artists and women who had little access to the official academy . The purpose was to prepare students for entry to the École des Beaux-Arts.