Artist
Samuel Adam-Salomon(French, 1818–1881)French, 1818–1881
CultureFrench
Titles
- Étude D'Après Nature
- Life Study
Datec. 1860
MediumAlbumen silver print from glass negative
DimensionsImage: 9 5/16 × 7 1/8 in. (23.6 × 18.1 cm)
Sheet: 9 5/16 × 7 1/8 in. (23.6 × 18.1 cm)
Mount: 9 5/16 × 7 1/8 in. (23.6 × 18.1 cm)
Sheet: 9 5/16 × 7 1/8 in. (23.6 × 18.1 cm)
Mount: 9 5/16 × 7 1/8 in. (23.6 × 18.1 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the S. I. and Susie Morris Photography Endowment
Object number2017.2
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 208
Exposé
Explore Further
Department
PhotographyObject Type
Samuel Adam-Salomon became one of the most sought-after portraitists of French literary and artistic luminaries. Here, however, he posed a wizened scholar with furrowed brow, poring over a heavy tome in a lush interior setting with ornate furniture and draperies. Whether taken from the artist’s imagination or from well-known literary, historical, or biblical narratives, such staged scenes were immensely popular with Victorian audiences. Variant images show the same model playing the cello or contemplating a skull (the latter image titled The Philosopher.)
ProvenancePhilip J. Rivkin, Houston; [Christie's New York, "Modern Visions: Exceptional Photographs," Thursday, February 18, 2016, Lot 209]; [Vintage Works, Ltd.]; purchased by MFAH, 2017
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed in pencil, verso, top left: Adam-Salomon
Inscribed in blue ink, verso, top left: auto-portrait // vers 1860
Inscribed in pencil, verso, top right: 14882
Inscribed in pencil, verso, bottom left: x2219
Inscribed in blue ink, verso, top left: auto-portrait // vers 1860
Inscribed in pencil, verso, top right: 14882
Inscribed in pencil, verso, bottom left: x2219
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
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