Samuel Adam-Salomon
Étude D'Après Nature

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)
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
Photography
Object Type
Description

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

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

[A Sleeping Child, Likely the Prince Imperial]
Samuel Adam-Salomon
c. 1859
Salted paper print from glass negative
2017.139
Étude d'après nature
Julien Vallou de Villeneuve
1853
Salted paper print with varnish
2004.785
Notre Dame de la Garde (D’aprés le Modele en plâtre)
Adolphe Terris
1863–1864
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2022.699.8
[Lake Scene with Mountains]
Samuel Bourne
1863–1870
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2000.569
Well of Knowledge
Samuel Bourne
1863–1870
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2000.249
Frederick Douglass
Samuel Montague Fassett
February 1864
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2022.37
[Hunters and Trophies, India]
Samuel Bourne
1863–1870
Albumen silver print from glass negative
90.494
Group of Bhooteas, Darjeeling
Samuel Bourne
1863–1870
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2017.360
[Rock Cut Sculptures in Happy Valley Fortress Gwalior]
Samuel Bourne
1860s
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2018.4.A,.B
Hubbard Pryor, Prior to Enlistment
Algenon Samuel Morse
April 7, 1864
Albumen silver prints from glass negatives
2019.434.1,.2
Frances Clalin Clayton
Samuel Masury
1864–1866
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2019.432