Petitjean debuted in the Salon of 1874. He was a member of the Society of French Artists from 1883, winning an honorable mention in 1881, first class medal in 1884, and second class in 1885. He was the recipient of a silver medal in the 1889 Exposition Universelle, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1892, gold medal in the 1900 Exposition Universelle and finally awarded the highest honor, that of "Hors Concours," that is, no longer being required to compete for a place in the exhibition. He also exhibited his works in Munich in 1890.

Translated from E. Benezit. Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs Vol. 8 Oke-Robb. Librarie Grund, Paris, 1976. P. 257

Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton