He had originally gone there to work on the decor for a theatre in Barcelona, but on Ciceri's suggestion he travelled around Spain painting and sketching scenes of villages and towns.

In 1875 they created the trompe-l'œil curtain for the newly built Palais Garnier as well as the painting on the dome over the main auditorium of La Monnaie.

In addition to his theatre work with Rubé, Chaperon produced decorative paintings and interior designs for churches, public buildings, and private mansions such as the Hôtel Goüin.

Chaperon carried on the atelier, joined by his son Émile, and together they produced designs for many opera and theatre productions in Paris that included La favorite, Les Huguenots, Frédégonde, Hamlet and Messidor.

They also produced exhibits for the Exposition Universelle in 1900, and interior decor for numerous provincial theatres as well as the Municipal Casino [fr] in Biarritz which opened in 1901.

[1] Émile spoke at its dedication on 5 December 1910: This beautiful theater reminded him of some of his happiest and most admired inspirations – the temple of Aida, for example, or the unforgettable esplanade of Elsinore in Hamlet – he loved music passionately.