Before taking up the camera himself, Nadar arranged for his younger brother, Adrien, to study photography and equipped a studio for him. In addition, Nadar conceived a brilliant scheme to promote the business by asking a friend, the mime Charles Deburau, to enact a series of scenes for the camera in the role of Pierrot. The series won a gold medal at the 1855 Universal Exposition. Here, the sickness that Pierrot’s overindulgence has wrought is etched on Deburau’s face, enacted in the spasmed hand clawing at his belly and suggested by the dark shadow that seems to emanate from his mouth.