Maignan first exhibited at the Salon of 1867, where he showed two paintings depicting rustic and lansdscape scenes. It was not until the following year that he began to execute history paintings, for which he is best known today. His particular interest lay in the history of France and, above all, the Middle Ages. The present work is derived from the story of the 6th century Merovingian queen Audovere, who was repudiated by her husband and exiled to a convent.