Born Henri Jean Théodore Fantin-Latour in Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes, France, he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and although he was painting at the time of the Impressionists, he created his own unique realistic style. He would be best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of many of the contemporary Parisian artists and writers who were his friends. His work would strongly influence the future symbolist movement.

It was Whistler who brought attention to Fantin in England at a time when French Impressionist painting, or any painting having dealings with the impressionists, was being overlooked by the Parisian art community.

In addition to his paintings, Fantin-Latour created ingenious lithographs demonstrating the music of some of the great classical composers.

In 1876, Henri Fantin-Latour married a fellow painter, Victoria Dubourg, after which he spent his summers on the country estate of his wife's family at Buré, Orne in Basse-Normandie, where he died.

He was interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse, Paris, France.

The cover art on the rock group New Order's album Power, Corruption & Lies (designed by Peter Saville) features one of Fantin-Latours still lifes.

Today, one of his paintings can sell for as much as US$2.5 million.