(c) 2017 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Alexandre Dumas, Père

primary Charles Reutlinger (Karlsruhe, Germany, 1816 - 1881, Paris)

subject Alexandre Dumas (Villers-Cotterêts, France, 1802 - 1870, Dieppe, France)

Date1857-1865

Place MadeParis, Ile-de-France, France, Europe

MediumAlbumen print on card

Dimensions10.4 x 6.3 cm (4 1/8 x 2 1/2 in.)

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Accession numberARC.007418

eMuseum ID726996

EmbARK ObjectID33216

TMS Source ID16748

Last Updated8/9/24

Status

Not on view

Web Commentary

This albumen print depicts Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) at the height of his fame. The prolific French author wrote many swashbuckling tales of adventure and romance, and was very popular during Isabella Stewart Gardner’s lifetime. His numerous contributions to the French literary canon made him a worthy addition to the French Authors Case, where Isabella displayed memorabilia relating to Francophone literary giants.

BibliographyNotesElizabeth Anne McCauley. A.A.E. Disdéri and the Carte de Visite Portrait Photograph (New Haven, 1985).
Nina Wutrich, "Inside the French Authors Case: Alexandre Dumas," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 19 July 2022, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/inside-french-authors-case-alexandre-dumas

MarksNotesInscribed in ink (lower, recto): A. Dumas, père [the popular epithet distinguishing him from his son, "Alexandre Dumas, fils"]
Printed in ink (recto): CH. REUTLINGER, PHOT. Déposé Garanti d'après nature
Inscribed in ink (upper, verso): A. Dumas, père
Printed in ink (verso): Coat of arms with a lion, unicorn, and a crown; lists of the photographic expositions and societies
Printed ink in (verso, under coat of arms): Ch. Reutlinger/ Photographe / 21, Boulevard Montmartre, 21. / Paris

ProvenanceNotesEntered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection at an unknown date.