In 1871, he died of a myocardial infarction during the Franco-Prussian War after witnessing Prussian Army troops entering the Louvre.

Upon his return he began work at the family bank, but spent much of his time decorating the account books with ornamentation.

His family then placed him with the banking firm of Jean Charles Joachim Davillier [fr], but he soon renounced the profession.

He briefly studied with several artists, and made trips to Italy, but his career began in earnest in 1830, when he accompanied an expedition to Algeria and witnessed the actions of naval commander Guy-Victor Duperré.

In 1838, he was commissioned by Horace Vernet, Director of the Académie de France à Rome, to accompany him in a French squadron to Mexico, witness and paint what would become known as the Battle of Veracruz.

While standing on a balcony at the Louvre, observing events, he saw the Prussian Army invading the museum and suffered a fatal heart attack.