During the Revolution of 1848, over twenty of his works were destroyed in the burning of the Château de Neuilly. Soon after, he began planning a trip to North America. He left in 1849 and would spend the next six years travelling throughout Canada and the United States, with stays in Louisiana and New York, where he participated in the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations. Nevertheless, he found that the demand for art in America was much less than in Europe and turned to painting portraits to make a living.