Durieu-Delacroix

The early French photographer Durieu made this in conjuction 

with the great artist Delacroix in the mid-1850s.

 

19th Century Day, Part 1 - Known Photographers

We're going way back to the 19th Century today, and it will be a two part set with known photographers first and then some unknowns.  The first is from the early 1850s and is by Durieu, a pioneering photographer who worked with the great artist Delacroix.

 

Durieu/Delacroix

This 1850s photo by Durieu for the artist Delacroix is a "new" version of a one I posted about five years ago.  I think the first version posted was altered, and this one looks more natural.

 

19th Century

This one was made by pioneering French photographer Jean Louis Durieu in the 1850s.

 

Teddy Butler

I saved what I consider to be the best of today's photos for last.  This is Teddy Butler, 

and at first glance you're probably just noticing a handsome bear.  At some point, though, 

you'll see that Teddy is an amputee.  The fact that it isn't the first thing to enter your mind 

is probably the intent of George Dureau.  Although he could be very "in your face" 

with his amputee photos, the subtlety here is magical.  Teddy looks quietly confident,

 even matter of fact.  And why not?  He's nothing less than beautiful.

 

1853 Durieu

Although it looks later and resembles the 1880s work of Lalaing, this one is well 

authenticated as by Durieu in 1853 in collaboration with the artist Delacroix.

 

Early 19th Century, Part 1 - Photos by Durieu

The heading for part one of today's double feature is a bit misleading.  The photos by Durieu in it date from mostly about 1854-55, which is mid-century.  It is, however, about as early as you can get in the 19th Century for male nude photography, although there are one or two earlier examples.  Four out of five of today's photos are of the same exceptionally well built model.

 

Leopard skin

Durieu used the leopard skin (I'm pretty sure that in 1854 it would have been real) in a

number of photos of this model, who appears to be glaring off to the side.

Disclosure:  I removed yellowing and sharpened the monochrome contrast.

 

Partial Derriere

For some reason, there doesn't seem to be a full derriere view of this Durieu model,

or at least I couldn't find one after much looking.

 

Six-pack

It's somewhat unusual to see a reclining model with a staff, but it works here.

Disclosure:  I removed yellowing and increased contrast to show off his six-pack.

 

Later

This Durieu photo is not dated, but shows a level of technical refinement

indicated it was made later than today's other photos.  Also, the model is different.

 

Europe Week

 

Over the years I've been blogging, I've been fortunate enough to have increased my already

considerable appreciation for Europe and Europeans.  Not only were the first male nude 

photographs made there, but there has been a long history of male nudes in European art.  Add 

to that the fact that I have made friends via this blog with European men from Belgium, 

the UK, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Finland, and Spain.  So, in appreciation, I am making 

the next seven days "Europe Week," starting with this 1853 photo by Prof. Durieu of France.

(Yes, I know the week doesn't start on Wednesday, but that's how I'm doing this.)

Jean Louis Durieu produced this photograph as part

of an 1850's series of studies for the French painter Delacroix.  

I have posted this 1853 photo by Durieu before, but it is worth repeating.

Durieu was an amateur and photography was still in its infancy when this photo was made, but the artistic and technical quality are of what I consider a high standard.  So much so, in fact, that the well known French artist Delacroix used some of Durieu's photos as studies for his paintings.

I really like the posing in this interesting photo by Durieu.

I recently did a series on the work of Eugene Durieu, 

and this is another of his studies for Delacroix from 1854.

Durieu and Delacroix in the 1850's, Part 1 - Durieu's Photos

Jean Louis Marie Eugene Durieu (1800-1874) was a French bureaucrat who took up photography as a hobby around 1850.  He was a friend of the renowned Romantic artist Eugene Delacroix, and between 1853 and 1855 he produced an extensive series of male and female nude photos for Delacroix to use as studies for paintings.  (Unfortunately for the fans of this blog, the majority were of women.)  Our Friday photos will be by Durieu, and our art series later tonight will by by Delacroix.  We start with this photo from 1853, one of the three oldest in my collection.

Durieu's photography seems crude by modern standards, but remember, he was an amateur and worked in the mid-1850's, the infancy of photography.  And did he ever know how to pick a model!

The leopard skin adds an exotic touch to this photo of an unknown model who posed for 90% or more of Durieu's male nudes.  (In about 75% of those, he is shown with a staff.)  The man is in superb physical shape, and this was 1855, decades before bodybuilding hit the scene.

While it might be a bit unfortunate that the model's face is obscured in this photo, 

his musculature is on full display, and it impresses.