The Nadars, a photographic legend

The Nadars

fr

Doctor Trousseau

Félix Nadar, 1861

Portrait taken by artificial light
Salt-paper print from a collodion glass negative, 24.1 x 18.8 cm.
BnF, Prints and Photographs Department, EO-15 (14)-PET FOL
© Bibliothèque nationale de France
Nadar mentioned his friend and neighbor, Dr. Trousseau – an uncommon character thanks to his classical erudition, skill as an orator, and his elegance – as a model for his experiments with photography by artificial light. Attracting persons of Troussseau's caliber onto the terrace at night for photgraphic trials was in and of itself a token of success for his invention's renown.