Porträtt av Félix Nadar

Your Guide to the 100 Most Famous Félix Nadar Paintings

Uppdaterad oktober 2026 · rangordnad efter vår popularitetspoäng (sökningar, besök och beställningar för varje verk) · 261 verk av Félix Nadar i vår katalog

In short

Félix Nadar's best-known piece is Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) (1855). You'll find it at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. Next on the list are Sarah Bernhardt (1864) and [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou (1889). We have 261 works by Félix Nadar in our catalogue; this guide picks out the 100 best known, with the year, the museum and the story of each piece.

1820 – 1910, Rue Saint-Honoré Pictorialism Flest verk: J. Paul Getty Museum

The 10 Félix Nadar paintings to know first

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

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…

2
Sarah Bernhardt (1864) av Félix Nadar

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…

3
[Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou (1889) av Félix Nadar

[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…

4
Paul and His Dog (1865) av Félix Nadar

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

5
Égouts De Paris (1861) av Félix Nadar

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.

6
Pierrot the Photographer (1854) av Félix Nadar

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…

10
Claude Debussy (1908) av Félix Nadar

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…

Numbers 11 to 100: more Félix Nadar paintings

11Gustave Doré (1855) av Félix NadarGustave Doré1855 12Charles Baudelaire (1855) av Félix NadarCharles Baudelaire1855 13Alexander Dumas Père (1855) av Félix NadarAlexander Dumas Père1855 14Honoré Daumier (1855) av Félix NadarHonoré Daumier1855 15Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1855) av Félix NadarJean-Baptiste-Camille Corot1855 16Félix Nadar (1854) av Félix NadarFélix Nadar1854 17Pierrot pleading (1854) av Félix NadarPierrot pleading1854 18Gustave Courbet (1850) av Félix NadarGustave Courbet1850 19Charles Deburau, Pierrot listening (1855) av Félix NadarCharles Deburau, Pierrot listening1855 20Gustave Doré (1855) av Félix NadarGustave Doré1855 21Charles Baudelaire (1855) av Félix NadarCharles Baudelaire1855 22Pierrot Climbing Through a Window (1854) av Félix NadarPierrot Climbing Through a Window1854 23Félix Nadar Indian like (1863) av Félix NadarFélix Nadar Indian like1863 24Sarah Bernhardt in the Role of Junie in "Britannicus" by Jean Racine (1860) av Félix NadarSarah Bernhardt in the Role of Junie in "Britannicus" by Jean Racine1860 25Michail Bakunin (1860) av Félix NadarMichail Bakunin1860 26Mikhail Bakunin (1860) av Félix NadarMikhail Bakunin1860 27Catacombes De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarCatacombes De Paris1861 28Catacombes De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarCatacombes De Paris1861 29Égouts De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarÉgouts De Paris1861 30Théophile Gautier (1857) av Félix NadarThéophile Gautier1857 31Catacombes De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarCatacombes De Paris1861 32Paul Nadar (1862) av Félix NadarPaul Nadar1862 33Catacombes De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarCatacombes De Paris1861 34Catacombes De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarCatacombes De Paris1861 35Égouts De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarÉgouts De Paris1861 36Catacombes De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarCatacombes De Paris1861 37Self-Portrait (1860) av Félix NadarSelf-Portrait1860 38Égouts De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarÉgouts De Paris1861 · Julius Böhler AG 39Catacombes De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarCatacombes De Paris1861 40Catacombes De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarCatacombes De Paris1861 41Hermaphrodite (1860) av Félix NadarHermaphrodite1860 42Égouts De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarÉgouts De Paris1861 43Self Portrait (1860) av Félix NadarSelf Portrait1860 44Mikhail Bakunin in the Middle of His Career (1860) av Félix NadarMikhail Bakunin in the Middle of His Career1860 45Égouts De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarÉgouts De Paris1861 46Égouts De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarÉgouts De Paris1861 47Catacombes De Paris (1861) av Félix NadarCatacombes De Paris1861 48Charles Baudelaire (1862) av Félix NadarCharles Baudelaire1862 49Hermaphrodite (1860) av Félix NadarHermaphrodite1860 50Hermaphrodite (1860) av Félix NadarHermaphrodite1860 51Nadar Lying On A Bench With A Cat (1860) av Félix NadarNadar Lying On A Bench With A Cat1860 52Gustave Courbet (1860) av Félix NadarGustave Courbet1860 53Self Portrait in American Indian Costume (1863) av Félix NadarSelf Portrait in American Indian Costume1863 54Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1860) av Félix NadarPierre-Joseph Proudhon1860 55Gustave Courbet (1860) av Félix NadarGustave Courbet1860 56Seated Model, Partially Draped (1859) av Félix NadarSeated Model, Partially Draped1859 57Gioacchino Rossini (1857) av Félix NadarGioacchino Rossini1857 58Gioacchino Rossini (1856) av Félix NadarGioacchino Rossini1856 59Gustave Doré (1867) av Félix NadarGustave Doré1867 60Sarah Bernhardt (1865) av Félix NadarSarah Bernhardt1865 61Alphonse Daudet (1866) av Félix NadarAlphonse Daudet1866 62Edouard Manet (1867) av Félix NadarEdouard Manet1867 63George Sand (1870) av Félix NadarGeorge Sand1870 64Victor Hugo (1870) av Félix NadarVictor Hugo1870 65Victor Hugo (1870) av Félix NadarVictor Hugo1870 66George Sand (1864) av Félix NadarGeorge Sand1864 67Gustave Flaubert (1869) av Félix NadarGustave Flaubert1869 68George Sand (1870) av Félix NadarGeorge Sand1870 69George Sand (1864) av Félix NadarGeorge Sand1864 70George Sand (1865) av Félix NadarGeorge Sand1865 71Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1865) av Félix NadarPierre-Joseph Proudhon1865 72Duchesse Marguerita De Madrid (1877) av Félix NadarDuchesse Marguerita De Madrid1877 73Duchesse Marguerita De Madrid (1877) av Félix NadarDuchesse Marguerita De Madrid1877 74Duchesse Marguerita De Madrid (1878) av Félix NadarDuchesse Marguerita De Madrid1878 75Duchesse Marguerita De Madrid (1878) av Félix NadarDuchesse Marguerita De Madrid1878 76Duchesse Marguerita De Madrid (1878) av Félix NadarDuchesse Marguerita De Madrid1878 77Duchesse Marguerita De Madrid (1878) av Félix NadarDuchesse Marguerita De Madrid1878 78La Grande-duchesse De Toscane Et La Duchesse De Madrid (1878) av Félix NadarLa Grande-duchesse De Toscane Et La Duchesse De Madrid1878 79Sarah Bernhardt as Dona Sol in 'Hernani' (1877) av Félix NadarSarah Bernhardt as Dona Sol in 'Hernani'1877 80Carlist Claimant Carlos VII (centre, bearded) with Members of His General Staff and Soldiers During the Third Carlist War, Probably near Tolosa (1875) av Félix NadarCarlist Claimant Carlos VII (centre, bearded) with Members of His General Staff and Soldiers During the Third Carlist War, Probably near Tolosa1875 81Jules Verne (1878) av Félix NadarJules Verne1878 82Edmond De Goncourt (1877) av Félix NadarEdmond De Goncourt1877 83Édouard Manet (1880) av Félix NadarÉdouard Manet1880 84Emile Zola (1885) av Félix NadarEmile Zola1885 85Gustave Doré Photographed at His Deathbed (1883) av Félix NadarGustave Doré Photographed at His Deathbed1883 86Sarah Bernhardt (1880) av Félix NadarSarah Bernhardt1880 87Gustave Doré (1883) av Félix NadarGustave Doré1883 88Honoré Daumier (1884) av Félix NadarHonoré Daumier1884 89Victor Hugo (1885) av Félix NadarVictor Hugo1885 90Sarah Bernhardt as Floria Tosca in Sardou's Play 'La Tosca' ( act 1) (1887) av Félix NadarSarah Bernhardt as Floria Tosca in Sardou's Play 'La Tosca' ( act 1)1887 91Jane Pierny Dans Champignol Au Théâtre Des Nouveautés (1892) av Félix NadarJane Pierny Dans Champignol Au Théâtre Des Nouveautés1892 92Alphonse Daudet (1891) av Félix NadarAlphonse Daudet1891 93Alexander III., With Xenia, Olga, the Tsarevich Nikolaj, Georg, Michael and the Tsarina Marie (1886) av Félix NadarAlexander III., With Xenia, Olga, the Tsarevich Nikolaj, Georg, Michael and the Tsarina Marie1886 94Paul Nadar, Photographie Prise Le 26 Décembre 1888 (1888) av Félix NadarPaul Nadar, Photographie Prise Le 26 Décembre 18881888 95Charles Gounod (1890) av Félix NadarCharles Gounod1890 96Auguste Rodin (1891) av Félix NadarAuguste Rodin1891 97Franz Liszt (1886) av Félix NadarFranz Liszt1886 98Stéphane Mallarmé (1890) av Félix NadarStéphane Mallarmé1890 99Guy De Maupassant (1888) av Félix NadarGuy De Maupassant1888 100Guy De Maupassant (1888) av Félix NadarGuy De Maupassant1888

Félix Nadar's paintings, period by period

What Félix Nadar painted most

The four subjects that come up most often in these pieces, each with its best-known example.

Where you can see Félix Nadar's paintings

De 4 museer som innehar flest av målningarna på denna sida.

Museum Stad Verk av Félix Nadar Målningar från denna lista
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, ParisMusée d'Orsay Paris 1 Pierrot the Photographer
Julius Böhler AG Starnberg 1 Égouts De Paris

Decade by decade: the best-known Félix Nadar piece of each

Verk per decennium

Pick a decade to see its standout piece.

Félix Nadar: quick answers about the paintings

What is Félix Nadar's best-known painting?See the answer

Top of the list is Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) (1855), Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Right behind it: Sarah Bernhardt (1864) and [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou (1889).

What age was Félix Nadar when creating Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870)?See the answer

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

What are Félix Nadar's top 10 paintings?See 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 och Claude Debussy. You'll find the year and the museum of each in the list above.

How many works by Félix Nadar are in your catalogue?See the answer

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

In which museums can you see Félix Nadar's famous works?See the answer

You'll find most of them in J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles), Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland) och Musée d'Orsay (Paris). The museum list above has the full breakdown.

When did Félix Nadar make the most famous pieces?See the answer

In 1860s, more than any other time: 44 of the 100 pieces on this page date from then, Sarah Bernhardt among them.

What are Félix Nadar's first and last famous pieces?See the answer

The earliest piece here is Gustave Courbet (1850); the most recent is Claude Debussy (1908).

Which subjects did Félix Nadar paint most often?See the answer

Photography (13), Portrait (11) och Victorian era (7), out of the 100 pieces on this page.

Which medium shows up most in Félix Nadar's paintings?See the answer

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

What style or movement is Félix Nadar known for?See the answer

Pictorialism, as you can see in the pieces on this page.

Which famous Félix Nadar paintings are at the J. Paul Getty Museum?See the answer

You can see 3 of the pieces on this page at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, including Sarah Bernhardt, [Sarah Bernhardt as the Empress Theodora in Sardou och Paul and His Dog.

Where can I order a Félix Nadar reproduction?See the answer

Yes. Every painting on this page is available as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print, in the size that suits you. Just open the painting's page to order.

Félix Nadar's story

Félix Nadar: En pionjär inom fotografin

Tidigt liv och början

  • Född: Gaspard-Félix Tournachon den 5 april 1820 i Paris (även om vissa källor tyder på Lyon).
  • Hans far, Victor Tournachon, var boktryckare och bokhandlare.
  • Studerade ursprungligen medicin men tvingades överge studierna på grund av ekonomiska svårigheter efter faderns död.
  • Nadar, som han senare blev känd under, inledde sin karriär som karikatyrtecknare och romanförfattare med bidrag till olika tidningar.

Från karikatyr till fotografi

  • Började experimentera med fotografi omkring sci 1853.
  • Öppnade sin första fotostudio 1854 på 113 rue St. Lazare, och flyttade senare till 35 Boulevard des Capucines år 1860.
  • Uppnådde snabbt erkännande för sina slående och psykologiskt insiktsfulla porträtt.
  • Ett avståndstagande från konventioner: Nadar undvek de påkostade bakgrunder som var vanliga inom porträttkonsten; han föredrog istället naturligt ljus och ett fokus på den avbildades personlighet.

Pionjär inom luftfotografering

  • År 1858 blev Nadar den första personen att ta luftfotografier med hjälp av luftballonger.
  • Han övervann de tekniska utmaningarna med att framkalla fotografiska plåtar på hög höjd genom att uppfinna ett gasbeständigt bomullsskydd för sina ballongkorgar.
  • Han var även en pionjär inom användningen av artificiellt ljus i fotografi, särskilt i de parisiska katakomberna.
  • Le Géant: År 1863 beställde han konstruktionen av en massiv ballong vid namn ”Le Géant” (Jätten), vilket tjänade som inspiration till Jules Vernes *Fem veckor i en ballong*.

Stora prestationer och inflytande

  • Porträttkonst: Fotograferade ett flertal framstående personer, däribland Victor Hugo, Charles Baudelaire, Sarah Bernhard och Gustave Courbet.
  • Etablerade världens första luftposttjänst under belägringen av Paris (1870–71) genom att använda ballongflygningar.
  • Värd för den första impressionistutställningen i sin studio 1874, vilket gav en avgörande plattform för framväxande konstnärer.
  • Publicerade vad som anses vara det första fotointervjun år 1886, med kemisten Michel Eugène Chevreul.

Senare liv och arv

  • Flyttade sin studio till Marseille från 1895 till 1909.
  • Avled den 20 mars 1910 i Paris och är begravd på kyrkogården Père Lachaise.
  • Hans son, Paul Nadar, fortsatte att driva studion efter hans död.
  • Quand j’étais photographe: Publicerade en memoar där han reflekterade över sitt liv och sitt arbete, vilket erbjuder värdefulla inblickar i 1800-talets fotografi.
  • Historisk betydelse: Nadars innovativa tekniker och konstnärliga vision fick en djupgående inverkan på fotografins utveckling som konstform. Hans porträtt förblir ikoniska representationer av de parisiska intellektuella och konstnärliga kretsarna.

Alla 261 verk av Félix Nadar →