The sitter was a fellow pupil of the artist at her studies at the Atelier Julian in Paris. An old label on the reverse states 'Painted by the Hon. Marion Saumarez over seventy years ago... the sitter was one of her fellow artists in Paris, and was nicknamed Le Beau Camille - he was very fond of himself'. Marion Saumarez painted Le Beau Camille for one of the autumn-winter competitions at the Paris Salon. Saumarez was the daughter of James, fourth Lord de Saumarez. Marion’s father had a great interest in the arts and he passed this love on to her. When Marion was young, her father spent time travelling in Europe and he used this opportunity to educate his two elder daughters, encouraging them to visit the beautiful buildings and museums in whatever country they were in at the time.