Who is Bongrand from The Masterpiece and what is their importance?

Bongrand is an older man, as well as an artist of note in Paris. He painted a picture known as The Village Wedding that hangs in the Luxembourg Museum. Bongrand has no appreciation for the painting, however, because it is from the past..... and the present is realism rather than the lyrical. Seeing Claude's genius, Bongrand encourages him to do what makes him happy...... to express himself rather than follow the dictates of the Salon...... Claude does not take his advice.