He came from a wealthy family. He was the son of a painting expert. Paul Delaroche was a pupil of Louis Étienne Watelet then of Antoine-Jean Gros. Delaroche made his debut at the Salon of 1822. He only began to be noticed at the Salon of 1824 where "Saint Vincent de Paul Preaching to the Found Children" and "Joan of Arc in her Prison" were exhibited. He is best known for initiating historical anecdote, a genre with a documentary purpose and dramatic sensibility that enjoyed great success. If Paul Delaroche was one of the most famous masters of his time, it was largely due to the fact that the genre in which he specialized perfectly suited the juste milieu ideal of the July Monarchy.