Henry Jules Ferdinand Bellery-Desfontains was born in Paris in 1867. Artist, painter, illustrator, engraver, lithographer and poster designer of the art nouveau period. Admitted to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1890 to study under Jean-Paul Laurens and Luc-Olivier Merson graduating in 1895. Also attended William Bouguereau’s classes at the Academie Julian in 1891. From the late 1890’s he contributed illustrations and lithographs to various art magazines including L’Image, L’Estampe Moderne, and L’Almanach des Bibliophiles. From 1896 until 1909 he worked at Editions d’Art of Eduard Pelletan illustrating many books. He also designed furniture, bank notes, playing cards and type faces and received a silver medal at the 1900 World fair in Paris.