Hippolyte (Paul) Delaroche was a French painter, born into a wealthy family, in Paris on the 17th of July 1797. He was determined to become an artist. In 1818 Paul Delaroche entered the studio of Antoine-Jean Gros. Delaroche is best known today as representative of French Academism. Delaroche made his début at the Salon in 1822 with "Christ Descended from the Cross" and "Jehosheba Saving Joash." That promoted him as an established artist; put him in central group of historical painters with Gericault and Delacroix together, with whom he became friends.