Ferdinand Cheval

Ferdinand Cheval
Born(1836-04-19)19 April 1836
Died19 August 1924(1924-08-19) (aged 88)
Burial placeHauterives cemetery
NationalityFrench
Other namesFacteur Cheval
Occupation(s)Mail carrier, artist
Years active1879–1924
Notable workLe Palais idéal
Spouse(s)Rosaline Revol (1858–1873)
Claire-Philomène Richaud (1879–1914)
Children3

Ferdinand Cheval (French pronunciation: [fɛʁdinɑ̃ ʃəval]; 19 April 1836 – 19 August 1924), often nicknamed Facteur Cheval ("Mail Carrier Cheval") was a French mail carrier who spent 33 years building Le Palais idéal (the "Ideal Palace") in Hauterives, in southeastern France. It is regarded as an extraordinary example of naïve art architecture.