The first two, Homage to Delacroix (1864) and A Studio at Les Batignolles (1870), reunited the painters that he admired; the fourth, Autour du Piano (1885), brought together the musicians.

He planned to bring together several personalities from the literary world around a portrait of the poet of Les Fleurs du Mal, at the occasion of his 50th birthday.

It was his friend Edmond Maître who helped Fantin-Latour to contact several renowned poets, among them Albert Mérat, Paul Verlaine, and Arthur Rimbaud.

The painting shows, seated, from left to right, Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud, Léon Valade, Ernest d'Hervilly, and Camille Pelletan.

Fantin-Latour's portrait of Rimbaud is, along with the photo taken by Étienne Carjat, the most famous and reproduced representation of the poet.