Raphaël Delorme
1885 – 1962

Raphaël Delorme was born in Cauderon, Bordeaux in 1885. He studied at l’École des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux. After he moved to Paris he designed for theater productions. He soon gave up this work and devoted himself full time to painting, with financial support from a relative. He left Paris and moved to his cousin’s castle in Valesnes where he painted for many years.

Delorme’s paintings are typical of the Bordeaux School like the works of his contemporaries Jean Dupas, and Jean Despujols. Quintessentially Art Deco, the paintings feature neo-classical subjects, and are executed in a strong academic technique. Often the paintings include symbolism, irony, or visual puns. Delorme’s use of perspective and architecture shows his background in stage design.

Delorme experienced little commercial success during his lifetime, despite his exhibits at Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, the Salon des Tuileries and the Salon d’Automne during 1920 and 1923. However, as the history of art is always being rewritten, Delorme is now being recognized as one of the most important Art Deco painters, ranking with Tamara De Lempicka and Jean Dupas.