Adolphe Desbarrolles (22 August 1801 – 11 February 1886) was a French artist. He is considered the father of modern chiromancy, aka palmistry or palm reading, a form of divination. [1]
Desbarolles was born in Paris, France. After completing his studies he spent three years in Germany before returning to France. [2] Back in France he worked as a painter and writer before becoming interested in palmistry.
Desbarolles married and from this marriage there was a daughter, Marthe Desbarolles who also became a graphologist and continued her fathers work.
He died in Paris and was buried in the Pére Lachaise Cemetery. [3]
He was a pupil and friend of Éliphas Lévi [4] He was also friend to Alexandre Dumas who he concluded after reading his palm would die at 104 years of age,after a duel. [5]