As an apprentice in a shop in Le Havre that supplied art materials, he became acquainted with many well-known painters. Following his art studies in Paris (1851-1854), he returned to Le Havre; many of his works are landscapes and marine scenes of this harbour town and its surroundings. He was one of the first artists to paint en plein air, and his works emphasise nature, weather conditions and blue skies. He created brightly lit chronicles of contemporary life, particularly at the seaside resorts of Deauville and Trouville. A young Claude Monet was encouraged by him to paint outdoors.