He belonged to a family of bankers and silk merchants from the Piedmont region, living in Lyon at the middle of the 19th century. Patron of many of the major artists of his time, such as Auguste Rodin, Jules Chéret, Albert Besnard, Félix Bracquemond and Alexandre Charpentier, he entrusted them with the home's interior decoration, of Palladian inspiration with a belfry and terraces, built according to Jean-Camille Formigé's plans. The quality and innovative character of the interior decorations, in part Art Nouveau, make it an exceptional place that is listed as a historical monument.