A native of Lyon, Cond'Amin made his way to Paris where he studied under Alexandre Cabanel, the quintessential pompier artist and favorite of Napoleon III. A good technician Cond'Amin began exhibiting still lifes, portraits and interiors such as this one in the Paris and Lyon Salons beginning in 1874. Here he has chosen the backdrop of a classical sculpture gallery against which to play on the theme of the romantic encounter. No male suitor is in sight, but the young woman walks between the sculpture of Athena--Greek virgin goddess of war (and patroness of the arts)--and that of Cupid, the god of love; a 19th century version of virtue tempted by vice.