He revealed there was no great seriousness in his subjects - he apparently shocked his teacher Gleyre saying, "if painting were not a pleasure to me I should certainly not do it".
Але ён не паспеў зрабіць яшчэ больш, і ў школьных сачыненнях дзеці пішуць: “Нажаль, славуты паэт не дажыў і да трыццаці гадоў”.