Self-Portrait with his Friends Valade and Mérat at the Café du Théâtre Bobino

In 1868 the symbolist poet Paul Verlaine and some of his friends, including the Parnassian poets Albert Mérat (1840-1909) and Léon Valade (1841-1884), began to gather for meals, smoking, drinking, and discussion. They initially met at the Café du Théâtre Bobino before convening at different establishments. Their meetings became known as "les diners Vilains Bonshommes" (or naughty gentlemen's dinners). One evening Verlaine drew himself, Valade (who served as secretary of the group), and Mérat seated at the table, enjoying a postprandial smoke with coffee and cordial glasses in front of them and a laurel wreath above their heads.
The poet's friend Félix Régamey reproduced the drawing in “Verlaine, dessinateur” (Paris, 1896), a volume that celebrates the poet's candid and sarcastic sketches. Régamey met Verlaine at one of these dinners. His publication includes tales of where they ate, the group's changing roster, and the printed invitation used for some of the evening revelries.