Sauvaire travelled to the Near East initially to visit a relative but decided to remain there to pursue a consular career. During this time he came in contact with Orientalists such as De Saulcy, Luynes and the architect Maus. Sauvaire became active in photography in the late 1850s and continued until the 1870s documenting many of the places he was posted in the Near East. A collection of photographs by Sauvaire was acquired by the Musée d'Orsay and an exhibition of prints from paper and glass negatives shown there earlier this year.