Stanisław Ludwik de Laveaux was born on November 21, 1868 in Jaronowice, Poland, as a son of the landowners Lucjan and Stefania née Borkowski. The de Laveaux family from France settled in Poland in the 18th century. After his mother's premature death, Ludwik was sent to school in Krakow, and then studied at the Krakow School of Fine Arts under the direction of Matejko (1884-1886 and 1889) and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich (1887 to January 1889).

The first significant works of Ludwik de Laveaux were created under the influence of the modernist Krakow environment, their themes are the people and the rural landscape. He was a frequent guest in Bronowice, where he became engaged to Marysia Mikołajczyk. Together with her, he was later immortalized by Stanisław Wyspiański in "Wesele", in the form of the Ghost. The artist created a lot in Paris and Normandy during his stay in France in the years 1889 - 1894. He was a modernist in his art, then he was strongly influenced by impressionism, but also expressionism and symbolism. He was fascinated by the lights of the night and painted many nocturnes, landscapes and Paris street scenes. His works are highly valued in Polish art history. From his preserved letters it is known that he had friends in England and that in the years 1890-1893 he traveled to London and Oxford several times. There he painted several portraits and landscapes for his hosts. He sold his paintings from French times in France, England and the USA. His life was very short-lived. He died in poverty of tuberculosis in Paris. He is buried in the Pantin cemetery in Paris.

The catalog of Ludwik de Laveaux's works compiled by his biographer, Aleksandra Melbechowska-Luty, is not complete. Many of his works are probably scattered in France, England and the USA.
His biography (Specter, Life and Works of Ludwik de Laveaux, Ossolineum 1988), as well as detailed information about the de Laveaux family can be found at the Polish Library in Paris, 6 Quai d'Orleans, 75-004 Paris, tel. 43 543 561, 46 340 544, as well as at the library of the Polish Social and Cultural Center in London, 240 King Street, London W6 ORF, tel. 0181 741 0474.