After moving to Paris in 1851, Höckert made his first painting that gained attention from a larger audience, "Drottning Kristina och Monaldeschi" (English: "Queen Christina and Monaldeschi"). It was awarded with a "mention honorable" at the Paris Salon in 1853. Höckert rose to fame two years later, in 1855, with "Gudstjänst i Lövmokks fjällkapell" (English: "Worship service in Lövmokk's fell chapel"). It was put on display at the 1855 World's Fair in Paris and was later bought by Napoleon III of France. At this time, Höckert became recognized as one of Sweden's foremost figure painters.