Nadar

1910 · Flo15 — <p><strong>FLAUBERT Paul NADAR 1856-1939</strong></p><p>Late print depicting Flaubert in bust<br />Paris c. 1910 cabinet format laminated on thick cardboard to the photographer's credit<br />Near fine condition except for a very slight defect on the right part of the portrait<br />"Flaubert" inscribed on verso by an unknown person<br />Stamp on verso: "E. Hautecœur – 35 avenue de l'Opéra – Paris"</p><p><strong>Very rare and legendary portrait of the writer by Nadar during the years of writing his novel <em>L'Éducation sentimentale</em> </strong></p><p>Flaubert's iconography is limited to say the least. Only four photographic portraits of the writer are known:<br />-Two portraits by Étienne Carjat in Italian format taken during two different sessions<br />-A portrait in profile by Giacomo Borelli probably taken during the Universal Exhibition of 1867 which Flaubert attended<br />-A portrait by Felix Nadar of bust in three quarters the one presented here</p><p>Paul Nadar son of Félix Nadar 1820-1910 had begun to collaborate with his father in 1886. This late print is therefore based on the one taken by Felix between 1865 and 1869.</p><p><u>Flaubert's photographic portraits even later prints are of great rarity.</u></p><p>When Flaubert died on May 8 1880 his face was unknown. He is an exception in a century where the face of the artist has multiplied through engraving and photography. The absence of an image results from the express will of the author: he refused consistently to "deliver" his head to the public.</p><p><u>Reference:</u><br /><em>Album Gustave Flaubert</em> éd. Yvan Leclerc Pléiade p. 184 n°147</p>