Comte Antoine-Maurice-Apollinair d'Argout (1782-1858) was a well-known government minister in his day, and was often featured in the press. His most prominent visual feature was his large nose, which dominated the cartoons lampooning his various ministerial deeds of the time. Daumier caricatured d'Argout in many humorous sketches and lithographs as well as executing two models in painted clay, one a bust figure, the other a full length standing figure from which the present cast was taken.