
Félix NadarFrench, 1820–1910May one see it?
New York, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
1852–1853
Turning to photography: his brother Adrien’s studio
By 1850, at thirty, he was a darling of the boulevards, known for his wit, but neither the theatre, the art salon nor the magazines gave him enough to live on. In 1852 he became co-owner of the photographic studio of his brother Adrien (“Nadar the Younger”), and in 1853 he began taking his first photographs; the partnership soon ended in litigation.
after 1853
Photographs for Ingres: studies for portraits
At Ingres’s request Nadar photographed the people whose portraits the painter wanted; according to his biographer É. de Mirecourt, Ingres drew his portraits from these photographs without needing the sitters to pose. Nadar was called the “Titian of photography”.
1854
A portrait studio at 113 rue Saint-Lazare
In 1854 a friend encouraged him to begin a portrait photography business; busy with caricature, Nadar yielded operations to his younger brother Adrien, who soon ran into debt, while Nadar took portraits at his own studio at 113 rue Saint-Lazare. Tensions between the brothers led to legal disputes over the right to use the name “Nadar”.
11 August 1854
Married: Ernestine Nadar
1855
Gold medal at the Exposition Universelle for the Pierrot series
The “Expressions of Pierrot” series was shown at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1855, where it won a gold medal.
8 February 1856
Son born: Paul Nadar