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| André-Adolphe Disdéri (1819–1889) | ||||||||||
| Of humble birth and limited education, Disdéri was born in Paris and went on to become a significant figure in the early history of French photography. He initially pursued various interests, including acting, commerce, and painting, before settling on a career in photography around 1847. He moved to Brest, where he opened his first photographic studio in 1848 with financial backing from his wife's brother. In 1854, he opened another studio on the Boulevard des Italiens in Paris, where he invented and patented the multi-lensed camera, which produced eight small prints from a single negative. Each print, known as a carte-de-visite (calling card), became hugely popular with the middle and upper classes worldwide. In 1859, he was appointed court photographer by Napoleon III. Disdéri's studio flourished, reaching its peak in 1860, making him the richest photographer in Europe. He had branches in London, Toulon, and Madrid. However, his fortune dwindled due to property speculations and investments in racing stables, and he eventually had to earn a living as a beach photographer in Nîmes. He died in poverty in a poorhouse in Paris. | ||||||||||
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