Scenic Runway

French photographer, Charles Marville (born Charles-François Bossu (1813–1879) adopted the pseudonym Marville – Bossu means hunchback in French) known for his photographs of Paris during its transformation in the 1860s, is being showcased in an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Charles Marville was the official photographer of Paris during its urbanization in the 1860s. From September 29, 2013 to January 5, 2014, visitors to the exhibit will be able to view photographs of the natural beauty of Paris as well as other photographs taken during its transformation.

Charles Marville
Sky Study, Paris, 1856-1857
Lent by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Fund, through
Joyce and Robert Menschel, 1987
Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Charles Marville
Percement de l’avenue de l’Opéra (Construction of the avenue de l’Opéra), December 1876
Musée Carnavalet, Paris
© Musée Carnavalet / Roger-Viollet

Charles Marville
Rue de Constantine (fourth arrondissement), 1866
Lent by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Fund, through
Joyce and Robert Menschel, 1986
Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art

To be able to see photographs of Paris in the 1860″s and compare it to what I have seen on my visits to Paris is fascinating. For someone like myself who has a deep admiration for Paris, the French culture as well as of photographs from a time long ago, this exhibit is absolutely amazing!

Tags: Charles Marville, French Photographer, National Gallery of Art