Hugues Merle was recognized during his life-time for his highly finished depictions of family life, historical subjects and the pathos experienced in the lives of the less fortunate French - notably working women.

Merle was most often associated with his friend and rival, William Bouguereau. In fact, it was at the urging of their mutual friend and art dealer, Durand-Ruel, that Bouguereau took up Merle's highly successful theme of familial love on which Merle had built a solid reputation.

Later Merle and Bouguereau found lucrative employment with Goupil, and Merle became the teacher of Bouguereau's wife, Elizabeth Gardner.