first gained widespread attention following the creation of his statues Mercure inventant le caducée (Mercury Invents the Caduceus) in 1861 and Jeanne d'Arc à Domrémy (Joan of Arc at Domrémy) in 1870 (in which she was represented as a peasant girl), and led to many commissions thereafter. He also contributed to the French revival of the medal as an artistic form.

Chapu taught at Paris' Academie Julian. Among his students