His initial artistic training came from his cousins, the miniaturists Louis-Ami Arlaud-Jurine [fr] and Jérémie Arlaud (1758-1827) in Geneva.

In 1797, he went to Paris where he worked in the studios of another miniaturist, Antoine-Louis Romanet, until he could begin studies with Jacques-Louis David in 1799.

The following year, the Academy of Lausanne held a competition to select the first Director and chose Arlaud.

During his tenure, he built the museum's collection, which included a large donation of paintings from the family of Abraham-Louis-Rodolphe Ducros and many works by contemporary artists.

He left 2,500 Francs to the government of Vaud to commission a painting from Charles Gleyre, a local painter who was then living in Paris.