Charles Nègre

Charles Nègre French, 1820-1880 A key figure in early French photography, Charles Nègre provides a link to photography's roots in painting and other visual arts. Nègre (born in Grasse) was a successful painter who had studied with Paul Delaroche, Michel Drolling, and Jean-Dominique Ingres. Beginning in 1843 he exhibited his work in various salons, winning high awards in 1851-52. His paintings were praised and purchased by, among others, Napoléon III. Like many other 19th-century artists, Nègre initially began making photographs to aid his painting. In 1844 he produced several...