Background
His mother was the youngest sister of the Belgian painter and etcher, Frédéric Théodore Faber.
His mother was the youngest sister of the Belgian painter and etcher, Frédéric Théodore Faber.
In 1838, he enrolled at the École des Beaux-arts, where he studied with Léon Cogniet.
He had his first exhibition at the Salon in 1840, featuring his depiction of Cornelia Africana, mother of the Gracchi. After that, he was a frequent participant in several regular exhibitions and received numerous commissions. Among the most popular were those featuring Molière, Boileau, various royalty and people playing whist.
His painting of the confessional at Saint Peter"s Basilica (1855) may be seen at the Luxembourg Palace.
He was named a Knight of the Légion d"Honneur in 1869. He died peacefully at home and his remaining works were sold in an auction at the Hôtel Drouot two months later.