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      Félix Nadar, 1820 – 1910

      Félix Nadar: The 100 Best-Known Paintings

      Of all Félix Nadar's paintings, Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) (1855) is the most famous; it hangs in the Museu de Arte de Cleveland, Cleveland. Close behind come Sarah Bernhardt (1864) and [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou (1889). Among the 261 works by Félix Nadar 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 Outubro 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 Félix Nadar
      Félix Nadar · 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

      Félix Nadar's 10 most celebrated paintings

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

      Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870)

      1855 · Black and White Photography · Museu de Arte de Cleveland, 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 Félix Nadar
      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 Félix Nadar
      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 Félix Nadar
      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 Félix Nadar
      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 Félix Nadar
      6

      Pierrot the Photographer

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

      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 Félix Nadar
      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…

      Félix Nadar paintings ranked 11 to 100

      Félix Nadar's canvases, period by period

      What Félix Nadar painted most

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

      Where Félix Nadar's canvases hang

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

      Museum City Works by Félix Nadar 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
      Museu de Arte de Cleveland, ClevelandMuseu de Arte de Cleveland Cleveland 1 Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870)
      Musée d'Orsay, ParisMusée d'Orsay Paris 1 Pierrot the Photographer
      Julius Böhler AG Starnberg 1 Égouts De Paris

      Decade by decade: Félix Nadar's most celebrated canvas

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

        Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870)

        Age 30 – 39 · Museu de Arte de 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.…

      2. 1860s
        Sarah Bernhardt (1864) by Félix Nadar
        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 Félix Nadar
        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 Félix Nadar
        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 Félix Nadar's paintings, answered

      Which is the most celebrated painting by Félix Nadar?Read the answer

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

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

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

      Which ten paintings is Félix Nadar 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 Félix Nadar are known?Read the answer

      261 works by Félix Nadar are in our catalogue, dated 1850 to 1908.

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

      Mostly in J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles), Museu de Arte de Cleveland (Cleveland) and Musée d'Orsay (Paris); the list above names each museum and its canvases.

      In which years did Félix Nadar 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 Félix Nadar'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 Félix Nadar's paintings?Read the answer

      Photography (13), Portrait (11) and Victorian era (7), across the 100 works on this page.

      What did Félix Nadar 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 Félix Nadar belong?Read the answer

      Pictorialism, as the canvases on this page show.

      What can I see by Félix Nadar 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 Félix Nadar?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.

      Félix Nadar: the painter's story

      Félix Nadar: Um Pioneiro da Fotografia

      Primeiros Anos e Inícios

      • Nascimento: Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, em 5 de abril de 1820, em Paris (embora algumas fontes sugiram Lyon).
      • Seu pai, Victor Tournachon, era impressor e livreiro.
      • Inicialmente estudou medicina, mas abandonou o curso devido a dificuldades financeiras após a morte de seu pai.
      • Nadar, como ficou conhecido, iniciou sua carreira como caricaturista e romancista, colaborando com diversos jornais da época.

      Da Caricatura à Fotografia

      • Começou a experimentar com a fotografia por volta de 1853.
      • Abriu seu primeiro estúdio fotográfico em 1854, no número 113 da rue St. Lazare, mudando-se posteriormente para o 35 Boulevard des Capucines em 1860.
      • Ganhou reconhecimento rapidamente por seus retratos marcantes e psicologicamente profundos.
      • Rejeição às Convenções: Nadar evitava os cenários opulentos comuns na retratística da época, preferindo a luz natural e um foco intenso na personalidade do fotografado.

      O Pioneirismo da Fotografia Aérea

      • Em 1858, Nadar tornou-se a primeira pessoa a realizar fotografias aéreas utilizando balões.
      • Superou desafios técnicos relacionados à revelação de placas fotográficas em altitude ao inventar uma cobertura de algodão à prova de gás para os cestos de seus balões.
      • Também foi pioneiro no uso de iluminação artificial na fotografia, notadamente nas Catacumbas de Paris.
      • Le Géant: Em 1863, encomendou a construção de um enorme balão chamado “Le Géant” (O Gigante), que serviu de inspiração para a obra *Cinco Semanas em um Balão*, de Jules Verne.

      Grandes Conquistas e Influências

      • Retratística: Fotografou inúmeras figuras proeminentes, incluindo Victor Hugo, Charles Baudelaire, Sarah Bernhardt e Gustave Courbet.
      • Estabeleceu o primeiro serviço de correio aéreo do mundo durante o Cerco de Paris (1870-71), utilizando voos de balão.
      • Sediou a primeira exposição impressionista em seu estúdio em 1874, proporcionando uma plataforma crucial para artistas emergentes.
      • Publicou o que é considerado a primeira fotoentrevista em 1886, apresentando o químico Michel Eugène Chevreul.

      Vida Posterior e Legado

      • Transferiu seu estúdio para Marselha, onde permaneceu de 1895 a 1909.
      • Faleceu em 20 de março de 1910, em Paris, e está sepultado no Cemitério do Père Lachaise.
      • Seu filho, Paul Nadar, deu continuidade às operações do estúdio após sua morte.
      • Quand j’étais photographe: Publicou memórias refletindo sobre sua vida e obra, oferecendo visões valiosas sobre a fotografia do século XIX.
      • Significância Histórica: As técnicas inovadoras e a visão artística de Nadar impactaram profundamente o desenvolvimento da fotografia como forma de arte. Seus retratos permanecem como representações icônicas dos círculos intelectuais e artísticos parisienses.

      All 261 works by Félix Nadar →