After the fall of the Third Republic the Conte was appointed Ambassador to London. He was later elected Mayor of Mamères in 1881, 1885 and 1893. He was a great patron of the arts giving 1,200,000FF to the Catholic University at Angers. After the death of his elder brother, he inherited the title "Doudeauville.

This previously unrecorded work is an important addition to Gérôme's portraiture. He was known to have painted only 35 sitters during his career. Gérôme has depicted the sitter wearing the latest fashion. Dr. Valerie Steele dates our painting to the 1870s based on the Conte's clothing.

Professor Gerald M. Ackerman has examined a transparency of the work and dates it to 1875-1880.