A French Impressionist painter, many of whose major works are examples of figure painting in which he placed the subject figure within a landscape painted en plein air.

Born to a wealthy family, he became interested in painting after seeing some works of Eugène Delacroix. His family agreed to let him study painting, but only if he also studied medicine. After moving to Paris in 1862, he met Auguste Renoir and Alfred Sisley and was drawn to Impressionist painting. After failing his medical exam in 1864, he began painting full-time. His close friends included Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley and Édouard Manet. He was generous with his wealth and helped support his less fortunate associates by letting them use his studio and materials.

He joined a Zouave regiment in 1870, a month after the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, and died on the battlefield at the age of 28.