Although he went back to Paris in 1881 and again in 1882, when he was honoured with becoming a member of the "Société libre des Artistes français", he would hardly leave Aix from 1873 onwards, living at 2, place des Prêcheurs. While in Aix, he liked to go painting in Le Tholonet. He was known for being headstrong. Joachim Gasquet once mentioned his "unwavering bravery and unquestioning pride", someone who, on his deathbed, still had faith in "the beauty, the art and the genius of the world".