Jean-Léon Gérôme was born in Vésoul, 1824, the first son of Pierre Gérôme, a goldsmith, and his wife Claude Françoise Mélanie Vuillemot, a merchant's daughter. From an early age, Gérôme had much academic success, receiving first prize in chemistry, an honorable mention in physics and a prize in oil painting. He started painting lessons at the age of 14 after completing five years of drawing classes. His drawing mentor was Claude-Basile Cariage, a strict master in the academic methods who is thought to have once worked in the atelier of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.

Although his father tried to discourage him from painting, in 1840, at the age of 16, Gerome set out for Paris for a trial period in the studio of Paul Delaroche who was then at the height of his fame. Gérôme proved his worth, remaining with Delaroche for the next three years.

In his third year of studies, Delaroche, suffering from depression after the death of his wife, decided to close atelier and set off for Rome. Gérôme asked to accompany him and Delaroche agreed. Gérôme thought of this journey as "one of the best times of my life".

In 1844, he returned to Paris after an attack of fever. That autumn he entered the atelier of the famous Swiss painter and teacher Charles Gleyre. Gérôme was fond of Gleyre's attention to detail and his affection for the near east. This influenced the young Gérôme who would ultimately find his calling in the Orientalist style of painting.

In 1855, after visiting Turkey for a large commission, Gérôme traveled to Egypt to prepare for a Salon show in 1857. The variety of subjects and themes he presented upon his return were astonishing and this marked the start of his career as an Orientalist.

By 1870, Gérôme was at the height of his career. He was a successful, well-established painter, a professor at the École, a member of the Imperial Institute, an officer in the Legion of Honour, an honorary member of the British Royal Academy, and awarded a decoration for the Grand Order of the Red Eagle, Third Class, by the King of Prussia.

During the latter part of his life Gérôme was a vehement opponent of the Impressionist movement in painting. He caused a scandal over his opposition to a Gustave Caillebotte painting bequest to the state. He protested the exhibition of the large collection of Impressionist works in the Luxembourg Gallery. Similarly he objected to an Edouard Manet memorial exhibition at the École in 1884.

In 1904, Jean Leon Gerome died in the little room next to his atelier, next to a portrait of Rembrandt and one of his own paintings. He is always remembered for his contributions to the world of exotic Orientalist art.