Ben Uri Research Unit

Born: 1873 Budapest, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary)

Died: 1939 Montreal, Canada

Year of Migration to the UK: 1893

Other name/s: Charles Ernest de Belle, Charles De Belle, Charles Debelle

Biography

Painter, draughtsman and illustrator Charles de Belle was born to a French father and a Hungarian mother in Budapest, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary) on 17 May 1873. De Belle showed his artistic talent from an early age and his family was very supportive of his ambitions, sending him to study art in Paris with the Hungarian painter Mihàly Munkàcsy from 1889–92. A grant from the Royal Academy of Arts in London enabled him to study there in 1893. After meeting Sir John Abbott, owner of the Irish Times, he worked as an illustrator for the newspaper in Dublin, where he married an Irish girl. He soon returned to England, living in London until 1912 where he contributed illustrations to the Illustrated London News, the Lady’s Pictorial and for publishers Blackie & Son and William Collins Sons & Co, establishing his own studio on Fitzroy Street in Fitzrovia.

Known for his pastel creations, de Belle developed his own unique method of fixation, mounting his pictures between two pieces of glass. In 1900 his portrait of Mr James Carlyle was included in the Royal Hibernian Academy exhibition in Edinburgh. The Irish Times noted that the work was ‘well executed and a good likeness’ and that the drapery was ‘handled carefully and with success’ (Irish Times 1900, p. 4). In 1913 a solo exhibition of his pastels was held at the Carrol Gallery on George Street, London. The following year his work was featured in the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers’ exhibition at the Grosvenor Gallery (1914).

Possibly given his partial French heritage, de Belle later immigrated to Montreal, Canada, where his works, especially his pleasing pastels, were appreciated by wealthy clients. De Belle became best known for his portraits, landscapes (in particular, winter scenes), and children's portraits. His achievements resulted in the election as an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts in 1919. De Belle was a frequent contributor to the annual Spring Exhibition of the Art Association of Montreal from 1913 until 1936. His health began to fail later in life and when he could no longer control his hands as firmly as before – a prerequisite for pastel work ¬– he turned to oils. Despite the infirmities of old age, he had a successful exhibition in the T. Eaton Co. Gallery in Toronto in 1934. Charles de Belle died in Montreal, Canada in 1939. Nine years later, a monograph entitled Charles de Belle, Peintre-Poète [Charles de Belle, Painter-Poet] was published. His work is not currently represented in any UK public collections.