Early Life and Artistic Awakening Romain de Tirtoff, universally recognized as Erté, was born into a world of aristocratic heritage in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on November 23rd, 1892. His lineage traced back centuries to Tatar khans—a noble pedigree that instilled within him an inherent appreciation for tradition and grandeur. His father, Admiral Vladimir Petrovich Tirtoff, served with distinction in the Imperial Russian Navy, shaping young Romain’s understanding of discipline and ambition. Yet, despite these expectations to follow a naval path, Romain possessed an irresistible passion for…