A painter of contemporary life and portraits, Lobrichon made his artistic debut at the Salon of 1859. Early in his career, he became one of the most sought after painters of children, capturing the particular character and personality of his young subjects, a talent that ultimately distinguished all of his efforts in portraiture. Lucas’s dealings with Lobrichon occurred mainly in the late 1860s as he negotiated commissions for various clients. On November 2, 1868, he noted the acquisition of this work: “at Lobrichon’s, who gave me a small head sketch.”