Charles Hugot was born on February 7, 1815, in Coulanges-la-Vineuse, in the department of Yonne. He settled in the town of Écouen where he became associated with the Écouen School, which is linked to the realistic and naturalistic style. Under the tutelage of Thomas Couture, he excelled in watercolors, etchings, and lithography.
At the Paris Salon exhibitions between 1835 and 1880, he showcased portraits, still lifes, genre scenes, and paintings depicting historical themes such as the Reformist Banquet of Amiens, The Invasion of 1814, and Costumes from the Time of Louis XIII. He was a close friend of Pierre Edouard Frère.
He passed away on July 27, 1886, in Villiers-le-Bel.