Adrien Constant Delessert Paintings

Adrien Constant Delessert was a French banker and photography enthusiast, known less for his own artistic output and more for his role in the development of photography as an art form. Born into a wealthy family on March 1, 1807, in Lyons, France, Delessert was the son of banker Étienne Delessert and the brother of Benjamin Delessert, who was also an influential figure in French finance.

Delessert's contributions to photography were largely through his patronage and support of pioneering photographers. He was an important patron to Gustave Le Gray, one of the most significant photographers of the 19th century. With Delessert's financial assistance, Le Gray was able to experiment with and advance photographic techniques, such as the waxed-paper negative process, which greatly influenced the development of photography.

Although Delessert's personal artistic endeavors are not as well-documented as those of the artists he supported, he was known to have been an amateur photographer himself. He took an interest in the early stages of photography and was associated with the circle of early French photographers. Delessert's own photographic work, however, has not received the same level of critical attention or historical preservation as that of his more famous contemporaries.

Delessert was also recognized for his work as a banker and was involved in various philanthropic activities. His contributions to the arts extended beyond photography; he also collected art and supported artists in different fields. Delessert died on March 24, 1876, leaving behind a legacy of financial acumen and artistic patronage that helped to shape the cultural landscape of 19th-century France.