His first successes in the S.A.F. (Exhibition of French Artists) were a citation for: "The Rest of the Harvester" in 1882 and, in 1884, a 3rd Prize medal for "Young Faun", bought by the city of Paris.

      In 1887, he presented "The Improviser" and received a 2nd Prize medale as well as a grant for travel. Thus, he spent two months in Spain, where the art of Goya and of the Primitive Spanish painters impressed him a greatly, and then in Italy. He visited Rome, Florence and Naples.The figurines of Tanagra particularly held his attention. 

It was again with "The Improviser", but this time in bronze, that he obtained a silver medal in the Paris World's Fair of 1889. From then on, his successes and his fame continued to increase. In 1890 he received the 1st  Prize  medal  and  the Exhibition Prize  for  the  marble: "The Song" and the plaster : "The Wrestlers".           On May 5th, 1892, day of the unveiling of the monument of the Centenary in Avignon, he was decorated with the title of chevalier of the Legion of Honour.

   
      This provided great satisfaction to him, because he had worked very hard and become exhausted physically. Furthermore, many had criticised him... 
   
      The next year, for the marble of the Wrestlers, he receved the highest award of the S.A.F. : The Medal of Honour

      The success of this work was great at the time, and the daring and originality of its conception were praised. The State purchased it, and, since 1905, it has decorated the City hall square of Bollène,  birthplace of the artist.