When poor health prevented him from attending university, he pursued his love for painting and enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lille, where he quickly became acquainted with notable artists such as Signac and Matisse. Deltombe soon began exhibiting his work in prestigious salons such as the Salon des Indépendants and the Salon d’Automne. In 1931, Deltombe was appointed as the director of the École des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, where he remained until 1943. Throughout his career, he displayed his works in solo and group exhibitions across Europe, and was the subject of retrospectives devoted entirely to his art. Deltombe's artistic legacy is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the craft, as well as his ability to infuse each piece with a unique sense of creative expression.