Charles Delort, "An Invitation to the Royal Ball", Oil on Canvas

Charles Édouard Edmond Delort was a French academic painter born in Nimes, France, on February 4, 1841. He spent the early part of his life growing up in Bordeaux. At the age of 12, he entered the Naval Academy, but the strict training was not to his liking and he soon left. He met M. Duhousset, the Professor of Design at the college of Lorient, in Brittany and studied with him for a short time. It soon became clear to Delort that Duhousset’s mission was to prepare and persuade him to enter military school (L'école d'état-major). He left his studies in Brittany and headed for Paris. Delort arrived in Paris in 1859 and thanks to the recommendation of Jean-Léon Gérôme (a family friend), he entered the studio of Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre, where he made rapid progress. It was during his training with Gleyre that George Pradel noted in Les Aquarellists, Paris 1883, where Delort acquired those warm, refined, yet vigorous octaves of color which we are to find at a later period in all his work. In 1862, Gérôme sailed for Egypt and Delort, seeing the opportunity for a close relationship with the master, accompanied him. With Gérôme as his mentor and guide, Delort was able to complete an important series of studies during the journey and upon returning to Paris, he entered the competition for the Prix de Rome. Delort spent the next few years in his retreat at Marlotte, where he studied and worked on his technique. In 1866, he was ready to exhibit and made his debut at the Paris Salon with his work - Daphnis and Chloe. The work was a great success and as he continued to exhibit, his popularity rose. Collectors and dealers soon learned the way to his studio in Marlotte. In 1875, he exhibited his most celebrated work The Embarkation of Manon Lescaut for Louisiana, which won him a medal. It was from this point that he seems to have devoted his career to scenes of the 18th century.