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.
Samuel Adam-Salomon
c. 1859
Salted paper print from glass negative
2017.139
Adolphe Terris
1863–1864
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2022.699.8
Jean Patou
1915–1916
Block printed and hand printed plate tipped onto magazine page
87.35
Noël Le Mire
c. 1785
Engraving
B.97.21
Samuel Montague Fassett
February 1864
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2022.37
Samuel Bourne
1863–1870
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2017.360
Samuel Bourne
1860s
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2018.4.A,.B
Algenon Samuel Morse
April 7, 1864
Albumen silver prints from glass negatives
2019.434.1,.2