 Bigot was born in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France and was encouraged into the arts by his mother.At the age of twelve, he was accepted by the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he was trained by artists such as Jean-Léon Gérôme and Carolus-Duran.While in school, Bigot was introduced to Japonism and befriended a number of collectors of Japanese art.