Visiting Paris

“Training for Paris 1924” by Henri Manuel (1874-1947)

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“Rue Castiglione,” looking at the Place Vendôme in Paris.

Cabinet card by Debitte & Hervé at 170 and 174 Rue de Rivoli.

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Eugénie, Empress of the French (Doña María Eugenia Ignacia Augustina de Palafox y Kirkpatrick, Countess of Teba, 1826-1920), ca. 1860.

A carte de visite by André-Adolph-Eugène Disdéri (1819-1889) at 8 Boulevart des Italians in Paris. The carte de visite was democratic: anyone could pose for one, and the embrace of someone like the Empress of the French amplified the form’s popularity.

Photos by Studio Arax

Emile Adjadj, Algeria 1954

André Coutoula

Robert Duranton

Juan Ferrero

Georges Georget, Paris 1958

Jean Louis Jean

Carte de visite by Étienne Carjat

Western man in Bedouin dress. Cabinet card, “[photographie] Ét. Carjat, 10 Rue Notre Dame de Lorette, au rez de chaussée [with a ground floor entrance], Paris.”

Étienne Carjat studied with Pierre Petit before founding the magazine ‘Le Boulevard,’ to which Charles Baudelaire contributed. After an initial period during which his CDVs won prizes at universal exhibitions, he sold his workshop to [G. M.] Legé and Bergeron, who promoted their tie to Carjat. He continued to take photographs at 62 Rue Jean-Baptiste-Pigalle 1866-69 and then at 10 Rue Notre Dame de Lorette.

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Carte de visite by Étienne Carjat (1828-1906) at 56 Rue Laffitte in Paris 1861-65.

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The new “Columme Vendome”

Originally built by Napoleon I to commemorate his victory at Austerlitz, the column was pulled down during the Commune, then rebuilt and reopened in 1874.

“Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile”

The name reflects its placement in what was formerly the Place de l’Étoile, a junction of twelve avenues. Like the column in the Place Vendôme, the Arc de Triomphe was built to commemorate Napoleon I’s victory at Austerlitz (1805).

“Le Luxembourg”

Built for Marie de’ Médicis, the mother of King Louis XIII, the Palais du Luxembourg is now the home of the French Senate.

“Tour St. Jacques”

All that remains of the Church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, torn down during the French Revolution, and located at the intersection of the Rue de Rivoli and Rue Nicolas Flamel.

 

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“Pont des Arts Institut” (These cartes de visite are likely by Maison Frêné.)

The first metal bridge erected in Paris (1802-4), it links the Institut de France with the main approach to the Palais du Louvre.

“Côté du Nouvel Opéra”

Today’s Palais Garnier (named for its architect), it was constructed between 1861 and 1875.

“Arc [de Triomphe] du Carrousel”

It was built 1806-8 in the Place du Carrousel to mark Napoleon’s victories in 1805 and as a gateway to the Palais des Tuileries, the imperial residence.

“Les Tuileries”

Begun by Catherine de’ Médicis in 1564, the Palais des Tuileries was a favored French royal (and imperial) residence until it was burned during the Paris Commune in 1871.

Note the line of fiacres, the only human and animal subjects stationary enough to be captured by the camera.

Cartes de visite

The Church of “La Madeleine,” neighboring the Place Vendôme and the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

The cartes de visite in this group are stamped by Maison Frêné at 222 Rue de Rivoli.

“Fontaine de St. Sulpice” in the Place Saint-Sulpice, designed by the architect of Napoleon I’s tomb.

“Ste. Chapelle et palais de Justice”

Sainte-Chapelle was consecrated in 1248; the Palais de Justice, formerly the Palais de la Cité — the seat of French government for a period ending with the Revolution — was largely rebuilt by Georges-Eugène Haussmann.

“La Bourse,” or stock exchange, in the Place de la Bourse. Located at various addresses from 1724, it found a permanent home in the Palais Brongniart (1808-26); in 2000 the bourse became Euronext Paris.

I spy a couple of flâneurs sitting above the steps ... and two more chatting between the columns.