A watercolour drawing of a military review on the Champ de Mars, with Queen Victoria and the Empress in a carriage at the centre, and Napoleon III and Prince Albert on horseback. Many lines of standing troops, and troops on horseback. Gun carriages and a mounted band in the foreground. Signed lower left: J. Sorieul. 1855

In August 1855 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert spent ten days in Paris, on the invitation of Napoleon III and his wife Eugénie. The historic state visit was intended to celebrate the military alliance between Britain and France in the Crimean War, and followed a visit by the imperial couple to Windsor in April that year. On 24 August there was a military review of troops on the Champ de Mars, a large open space in front of the Ecole Militaire used for drills and marching. The troops marched for three quarters of an hour. Queen Victoria wrote an extensive journal entry for the day, remarking 'The coup d'oeil on the Champs de Mars was truly magnificent, from 30 to 40,000 men, several rows deep being drawn up there' (24 August 1855).

Jean Sorieul trained with the popular military painter Hippolyte Bellangé, and exhibited military and history paintings at the annual Salon.