Atelier — Gratis verzending wereldwijd — Levertijd 2–6 weken
      Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, 1820 – 1910

      Gaspard-Félix Tournachon: The 100 Best-Known Paintings

      Of all Gaspard-Félix Tournachon's paintings, Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) (1855) is the most famous; it hangs in the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Close behind come Sarah Bernhardt (1864) and [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou (1889). Among the 261 works by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon in our catalogue, these 100 are the most celebrated, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.

      Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated oktober 2026. Each painting on this page can be ordered as an oil reproduction painted by hand on linen canvas, or as a fine art print, made to the size you choose.

      Portrait of Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
      Gaspard-Félix Tournachon · 1820 – 1910
      Born · died
      1820 – 1910, rue Saint-Honoré
      Movement
      Pictorialism
      Works in our catalogue
      261
      Most famous
      Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) (1855)
      Most works at
      J. Paul Getty Museum

      Gaspard-Félix Tournachon's 10 most celebrated paintings

      Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) (1855) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
      1

      Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870)

      1855 · Black and White Photography · Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland

      This arresting black and white portrait offers us an intimate encounter with Alexandre Dumas père, the celebrated author whose pen spun tales of adventure and romance across Europe. Taken in 1855 by the masterful lens of Nadar, this photograph transcends a mere likeness; it is a carefully preserved moment of intellectual repose. The composition centers on Dumas’s upper torso, presenting him with an air that is both formal for its…

      Sarah Bernhardt (1864) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
      2

      Sarah Bernhardt

      1864 · Acrylic On Canvas · J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

      Félix Nadar’s “Sarah Bernhardt,” captured in 1864, transcends the conventional portrait and becomes a profound study of presence—a frozen moment of theatrical intensity. More than simply a likeness, it's an intimate revelation of the legendary actress herself, radiating both vulnerability and formidable strength. The photograph, executed with the meticulous precision characteristic of Nadar’s work, offers a rare glimpse into Bernhardt’s carefully constructed stage persona, yet simultaneously hints at the woman…

      [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou (1889) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
      3

      [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou

      1889 · Acrylic On Canvas · J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

      Gaspard Félix Tournachon's photograph, "Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou’s ‘Theodora’," transcends a simple portrait; it’s a frozen moment of theatrical power and profound emotional resonance. Executed in 1889, this albumen print captures the legendary actress at the height of her career, embodying the formidable figure of Byzantine empress Theodora within Victorien Sardou's dramatic play. Tournachon, already a master of capturing fleeting expressions and atmospheric detail, here utilizes…

      Paul and His Dog (1865) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
      4

      Paul and His Dog

      1865 · Black and White Photography · J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

      In the quiet, silvered depths of Gaspard Félix Tournachon’s 1865 masterpiece, “Paul and His Dog,” we encounter a scene that transcends the boundaries of mere photography to become a profound meditation on the human condition. Captured during a period of immense historical upheaval, this work serves as an intimate window into a moment of stillness amidst the encro

      Égouts De Paris (1861) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
      5

      Égouts De Paris

      1861 · Black and White Photography

      We are looking at Égouts De Paris, a work produced by Nadar in 1861. This photograph captures the subterranean reality of Paris, France, focusing specifically on the city's sewer system. It is a rare glimpse into a space that remained hidden from the public eye during the mid-nineteenth century.

      Pierrot the Photographer (1854) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
      6

      Pierrot the Photographer

      1854 · Acrylic On Canvas · Musée d'Orsay, Parijs

      Félix Nadar’s “Pierrot the Photographer,” created in 1854, isn't merely a portrait; it’s a meticulously constructed tableau vivant—a staged scene brimming with quiet observation and subtle commentary on the burgeoning world of photography. The image immediately draws the eye to Pierrot, a figure both familiar and unsettlingly modern, holding a camera poised as if capturing not just a likeness but an essence. He embodies the nascent spirit of the photographer…

      Claude Debussy (1908) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
      10

      Claude Debussy

      1908

      A Glimpse into Genius: Felix Nadar's Portrait of Claude Debussy This striking vintage photograph captures the renowned composer Claude Debussy in 1908, immortalized by the celebrated photographer Félix Nadar. More than just a likeness, this portrait offers a window into the soul of a musical innovator and reflects the burgeoning field of photography at the turn of the century. The image presents Debussy in a three-quarter view, his gaze directly…

      Gaspard-Félix Tournachon paintings ranked 11 to 100

      Gaspard-Félix Tournachon's canvases, period by period

      What Gaspard-Félix Tournachon painted most

      The four subjects that return most often on these canvases, each with its best-loved example.

      Where Gaspard-Félix Tournachon's canvases hang

      The 4 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

      Museum City Works by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon Paintings from this list
      J. Paul Getty Museum, Los AngelesJ. Paul Getty Museum Los Angeles 3 Sarah Bernhardt, [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou, Paul and His Dog
      Cleveland Museum of Art, ClevelandCleveland Museum of Art Cleveland 1 Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870)
      Musée d'Orsay, ParijsMusée d'Orsay Parijs 1 Pierrot the Photographer
      Julius Böhler AG Starnberg 1 Égouts De Paris

      Decade by decade: Gaspard-Félix Tournachon's most celebrated canvas

      1. 1850s
        Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) (1855) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
        Ranked 1 of 100

        Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870)

        Age 30 – 39 · Cleveland Museum of Art

        This arresting black and white portrait offers us an intimate encounter with Alexandre Dumas père, the celebrated author whose pen spun tales of adventure and romance across Europe.…

      2. 1860s
        Sarah Bernhardt (1864) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
        2 of 100

        Sarah Bernhardt

        Age 40 – 49 · J. Paul Getty Museum

        Félix Nadar’s “Sarah Bernhardt,” captured in 1864, transcends the conventional portrait and becomes a profound study of presence—a frozen moment of theatrical intensity. More than simply a likeness,…

      3. 1870s
      4. 1880s
        [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou (1889) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
        Ranked 3 of 100

        [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou

        Age 60 – 69 · J. Paul Getty Museum

        Gaspard Félix Tournachon's photograph, "Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou’s ‘Theodora’," transcends a simple portrait; it’s a frozen moment of theatrical power and profound emotional resonance.…

      5. 1890s
      6. 1900s
        Claude Debussy (1908) by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
        Ranked 10 of 100

        Claude Debussy

        Age 80 – 89

        A Glimpse into Genius: Felix Nadar's Portrait of Claude Debussy This striking vintage photograph captures the renowned composer Claude Debussy in 1908, immortalized by the celebrated photographer Félix…

      Your questions on Gaspard-Félix Tournachon's paintings, answered

      Which is the most celebrated painting by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon?Read the answer

      Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) (1855), Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Sarah Bernhardt (1864) and [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou (1889) follow.

      How old was Gaspard-Félix Tournachon at the time of Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870)?Read the answer

      Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, born in 1820, was 35 years old: Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) dates from 1855.

      Which ten paintings is Gaspard-Félix Tournachon most famous for?Read the answer

      Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870), Sarah Bernhardt, [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou, Paul and His Dog, Égouts De Paris, Pierrot the Photographer, portraits François Guizot, portraits Gioacchino Rossini, Eugène Viollet le Duc and Claude Debussy. Each canvas in the ranking above comes with its year and its museum.

      How many paintings by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon are known?Read the answer

      261 works by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon are in our catalogue, dated 1850 to 1908.

      Which museums hold Gaspard-Félix Tournachon's best-known canvases?Read the answer

      Mostly in J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles), Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland) and Musée d'Orsay (Parijs); the list above names each museum and its canvases.

      In which years did Gaspard-Félix Tournachon paint the most celebrated canvases?Read the answer

      In 1860s, which gave 44 of the 100 works on this page, Sarah Bernhardt among them.

      What are the first and the last of Gaspard-Félix Tournachon's famous canvases?Read the answer

      The earliest canvas here is Gustave Courbet (1850); the latest is Claude Debussy (1908).

      Which subjects return most often in Gaspard-Félix Tournachon's paintings?Read the answer

      Photography (13), Portrait (11) and Nadar (8), across the 100 works on this page.

      What did Gaspard-Félix Tournachon usually paint with?Read the answer

      Black and White Photography, used in 3 of the 100 works on this page.

      To which art movement does Gaspard-Félix Tournachon belong?Read the answer

      Pictorialism, as the canvases on this page show.

      What can I see by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon at the J. Paul Getty Museum?Read the answer

      The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles holds 3 of the works on this page, among them Sarah Bernhardt, [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou and Paul and His Dog.

      Can I order a hand-painted copy of a painting by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon?Read the answer

      Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered from its own page as an oil reproduction painted by hand, or as a fine art print, in the size you choose.

      Gaspard-Félix Tournachon: the painter's story

      Félix Nadar: Een Pionier van de Fotografie

      Vroege Leven en Begin

      • Geboren: Gaspard-Félix Tournachon op 5 april 1820 in Parijs (hoewel sommige bronnen Lyon suggereren).
      • Zijn vader, Victor Tournachon, was een drukker en boekhandelaar.
      • Hij studeerde aanvankelijk medicijnen, maar moest deze studie opgeven vanwege financiële moeilijkheden na de dood van zijn vader.
      • Nadar, zoals hij later bekend zou worden, begon zijn carrière als karikaturist en romanschrijver, waarbij hij bijdroeg aan diverse kranten.

      Van Karikatuur naar Fotografie

      • Rond 1853 begon hij te experimenteren met de fotografie.
      • Hij opende zijn eerste fotostudio in 1854 aan de 113 rue St. Lazare, en verhuisde later in 1860 naar het 35 Boulevard des Capucines.
      • Hij verwierf snel erkenning voor zijn indrukwekkende en psychologisch diepgravende portretten.
      • Afwijzing van Conventie: Nadar vermeed de weelderige decors die destijds gebruikelijk waren in de portretkunst; hij gaf de voorkeur aan natuurlijk licht en een focus op de persoonlijkheid van de geportretteerde.

      Pionier van de Luchtfotografie

      • In 1858 werd Nadar de eerste persoon die luchtfoto's maakte met behulp van luchtballonnen.
      • Hij overwon technische uitdagingen met betrekking tot het ontwikkelen van fotografische platen op grote hoogte door een gasbestendige katoenen afdekking voor zijn manden te ontwerpen.
      • Daarnaast was hij een pionier in het gebruik van kunstlicht in de fotografie, met name in de Catacomben van Parijs.
      • Le Géant: In 1863 gaf hij opdracht tot de bouw van een enorme ballon genaamd “Le Géant” (De Reus), wat direct inspiratie vormde voor Jules Vernes *Vijf weken in een ballon*.

      Grote Prestaties en Invloeden

      • Portretkunst: Hij fotografeerde talloze prominente figuren, waaronder Victor Hugo, Charles Baudeloet, Sarah Bernhardt en Gustave Courbet.
      • Hij richtte de eerste luchtpostdienst ter wereld op tijdens het Beleg van Parijs (1870-71) door gebruik te maken van ballonvluchten.
      • In 1874 bood hij in zijn studio een podium aan de eerste impressionistische tentoonstelling, wat cruciaal was voor opkomende kunstenaars.
      • In 1886 publiceerde hij wat wordt beschouwd als het eerste foto-interview, met de chemicus Michel Eugène Chevreul.

      Latere Leven en Nalatenschap

      • Van 1895 tot 1909 verplaatste hij zijn studio naar Marseille.
      • Hij overleed op 20 maart 1910 in Parijs en ligt begraven op de begraafplaats Père Lachaise.
      • Zijn zoon, Paul Nadar, zette de werkzaamheden van de studio voort na zijn dood.
      • Quand j’étais photographe: Hij publiceerde een memoires waarin hij terugblikte op zijn leven en werk, wat waardevolle inzichten biedt in de 19e-eeuwse fotografie.
      • Historische Betekenis: De innovatieve technieken en artistieke visie van Nadar hebben de ontwikkeling van de fotografie als kunstvorm diepgaand beïnvloed. Zijn portretten blijven iconische representaties van de Parijsese intellectuele en artistieke kringen.

      All 261 works by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon →