Andriolli arrived in Paris in June 1864. He travelled by train, covering part of the distance on foot and earning a living by drawing portraits. In Paris he was taken in by the fellow student, Władysław Mickiewicz, who also facilitated his entrance to the salons.

In 1865 the Luxembourg Bookstore, which Władysław Mickiewicz founded in Paris to promote Polish works and Poland in French and native languages published Les récits d'un vieux gentilhomme polonais by Henryk Rzewuski. The French version of the Memoirs was illustrated by Elwiro Andriolli and Bronisław Zalewski.

Very quickly did Andriolli manage to publish in the famous publishing house L’IIIustration the work Circassian emigrants fleeing to Turkey. This opened him the door to other publishers who started to order his works, which for a foreigner in France was a huge achievement. The young artist worked intensively in Paris. He also published his illustrations in Polish illustrated magazines.

However, Andriolli still gave priority to patriotism over his career. In Paris, he stayed in the community of Polish emigrants and signed petitions on the case of the insulted General Mierosławski. In the summer of 1865 he moved to Constantinople as emissary of the Polish Emigration Committee.