In 1840, he set himself up at
Saint-Étienne, where he was professor at the town's
university. He left the town for
Lyon in 1845 where he became a professor at the École des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, becoming its director in 1874 and teaching artists including
Léon-Alexandre Delhomme. In 1852 he produced the Virgin on top of the chapel of the
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in his studio on the quays of the Saône. When his studio was flooded, the statue's unveiling was put back to 8 December, which has since then been celebrated as Lyon's
fête des lumières.
From 15 to 19 September 1863, he was in
Lourdes to visit
Bernadette Soubirous, who described to him the visions of the
Virgin Mary. He then made a statue of the Virgin, commissioned by the Lacour sisters and under the control of Abbot Blanc, who above all wanted a statue faithful to the young woman's description. It was intended for the grotto of Massabielle near Lourdes and dedicated on 4 April 1864 in front of 20,000 people.[1] This was the artist's masterwork, copied later on all over the world, but caused a
polemic on its adequacy to the young peasant girl's visions, who did not approve it.
1852 : Golden virgin consecrated on 8 December 1852 (see
Fête des lumières) on top of the chapel of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon 5th arrondissement.
1855 : Virgin and Child, on the corner of Maison Blanchon by the architect
Pierre Bossan, at the corner of Quai Fulchiron and
Place Benoît-Crépu, Lyon 5th arrondissement[2]
1855 : Beatrix, white marble, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, Lyon 1st arrondissement
1864 : Virgin Mary, according to the description of Bernadette Soubirous, grotto Massabielle, Lourdes;
Carrara marble, 1.83m high.
1866 : Saint Catherine of Alexandria, place des Terreaux, corner of rue d’Algérie and rue Sainte Marie des Terreaux, Lyon 1st arrondissement. J. H. Fabisch also designed the building's pediment, one of whose corners the statue occupies[3]
1868 : Virgin and Child, Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Lourdes.
Undated :
Saint Peter, place des Terraux, corner of rue Constantine, rue Paul Chenavard, Lyon 1st arrondissement[4]