Victor Hugo on his deathbed by Nadar. May 22, 1885.

Victor HUGO (1802.1885)

Original photograph by Nadar.

Large format photoglyph print.

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A remarkable print mounted on heavy card, slightly later, depicting Victor Hugo on his deathbed in May 1885.

Like other artists, painters, sculptors, Nadar went to Victor Hugo's bedside the day after his death, May 23, 1885, at his home on Avenue Victor Hugo in Paris in order to immortalize him one last time.

Paul Nadar, the photographer's son, recounted: "Victor Hugo, dead, was photographed by my father using only daylight and lamps. Yes, thanks to Paul Meurice, my father had obtained permission to open the shutters of the window overlooking the garden. A beautiful spring morning. It was the sun that illuminated him for the last time... And this photograph taken by my father in tears is perhaps his masterpiece."

Inscriptions printed in black:

 February 26, 1802 – Victor Hugo – May 22, 1885 – Nadar

The print made by Paul Nadar is of a spectacular format: 19.6 x 25 cm for the image and 30 x 38 cm for the cardboard backing. Nadar stamp on the back.

The print is presented in a giltwood frame with decorations.

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Origin :

Descendants of Richard Lesclide (1825-1892) writer, pressman, friend and unpaid secretary of Victor Hugo.

Bibliography:

The NADARs, a photographic legend . BNF editions. 2018. Page 177.

Nadar. Photographs. Arthur Hubschmid. 1979. Page 323.