Charles Louis Gratia

Charles Louis Gratia (9 November 1815 – 11 August 1911) was a French painter best known as a pastel artist. He became well-known for his portraits during the July Monarchy (1830–48), but after the fall of the monarchy moved to London, England in 1850. After struggling at first, since he was foreign and pastel was an unfamiliar medium, he became recognized and made portraits of many prominent people including Queen Victoria. He returned to France in 1867, and continued to submit work to the Paris Salon until 1895. In his last years he was unable to compete with photography and with the Impressionist painters, and died in poverty.