The purpose of this research is to provide potential neuroscientists and computer scientists with an artificial retina model, delivering spikes to higher-level visual tasks simulations. The architecture of our retina model is based on recent physiological studies, so that each feature is related to real retina characteristics. The model includes a linear filtering process, followed by a static non-linearity, and then a spike generation process. It thus simulates the output of the Parvocellular pathway of primate retinas, possibly for large-scale simulations. Two series of tests were performed: firstly on single cells for which ground truth is available, secondly on realistic visual scenes. The report sets the basis for further modeling. This includes nonlinear effects that could occur due to the conductance-based nature of synaptic interactions. Another future extension is modeling of the Magnocellular pathway of primate retinas. It is our conviction that building such a bio-inspired model will help in better understanding how the retina performs and also in relating observations to biological mechanisms.