In 1859 Lami began a series of around twenty illustrations for plays, novels and poems by his close friend Alfred de Musset. The present drawing illustrates a poem inspired by three steps in the gardens of Versailles: 'Beau marbre, as-tu la Valliére? De Parabére ou de Sabran Lapuelle savait mieux le plaire? Entre Sabran et Parabére Leégent Méme, apres souper chavisait jusqu'á s'y tromper'
The steps which are described in the title of the poem as being made of pink marble probably refer to those at the Grand Trianon, which was made of pink and white marble. Lami chose to represent steps in the gardens of the type which had been remodelled by the elderly King Louis XIV to allow his wheelchair to be pushed around. A ramp was created at the center of each flight of steps used by the King on his tours of the gardens. The King was so proud of his gardens that he wrote a short guide book on how to visit the Parterres.
Curiously the world that Musset evokes in the poem is that of the Regent's court at Versailles from 1722. After the death of King Louis XIV his nephew, the Duc d'Orléans, became Regent to the young King Louis. The Regent, who had a strong personality, led a disolute life that was much discussed by Historians of Republican sentiment in the 19th Century. Madame de Sabran and Madame de Parabére were the Regent's mistresses while Madame de la Valliére had been one of King Louis XIV's first mistresses