11 Heures Du Soir. Portrait from Les Dix-huit Heures d’une Parisienne

Achille Devéria, a prominent French painter, illustrator, and engraver of the Romantic era, was born on February 6, 1800, in Paris, where he also passed away on December 23, 1857. The eldest of five siblings, Devéria was the son of a naval official. His artistic journey began under the tutelage of Anne-Louis Girodet, followed by Louis Lafitte, the king's draftsman. By 1822, Devéria had started exhibiting at the Salon and, alongside his brother Eugène, also a painter, established a drawing course. His life took a significant turn in December 1824 when he met Victor Hugo and his wife, leading to a lasting friendship and mutual visits. This encounter was marked by a drawing Devéria promised to Madame Hugo, symbolizing the beginning of their regular exchanges. In 1829, Devéria married Céleste Motte, daughter of the lithographer Charles Motte, and their home on rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs became a vibrant hub for the Romantic movement. Described by their son Gabriel as a cheerful nest hidden within gardens, the house served both as the family residence and Devéria's studio. It was a gathering place for the Romantic elite, including Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Prosper Mérimée, and Franz Liszt, reflecting Devéria's integral role in the cultural milieu of his time. His work and life were deeply intertwined with the Romantic movement, leaving a lasting legacy in French art.