Napoleon Sarony (March 9, 1821 – November 9, 1896)[1] was an American lithographer and photographer. He was a highly popular portrait photographer, best known for his portraits of the stars of late-19th-century American theater. His son, Otto Sarony, continued the family business as a theater and film star photographer.
Sarony was born in 1821 in Quebec, then in the British colony of Lower Canada, and moved to New York City around 1836. He worked as an illustrator for Currier and Ives before joining with James Major and starting his own lithography business, Sarony & Major, in 1843. In 1845, James Major was replaced in Sarony & Major by Henry B. Major, and the firm continued operating under that name until 1853. From 1853 to 1857, the firm was known as Sarony and Company, and from 1857 to 1867, as Sarony, Major & Knapp. Sarony left the firm in 1867 and established a photography studio at 37 Union Square, during a time when celebrity portraiture was a popular fad.[2][3] Photographers would pay their famous subjects to sit for them, and then retain full rights to sell the pictures. Sarony reportedly paid the internationally famous stage actress Sarah Bernhardt $1,500 to pose for his camera, equivalent to $45,239 in 2021.[3] In 1894, he published a portfolio of prints entitled "Sarony's Living Pictures".
Associations
Included among the thousands of people that came into Sarony's world were many distinguished people, such as American Civil War General William T. Sherman and literary figures Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), Lew Wallace and Oscar Wilde. Sarony also took a photograph of the great American inventor Nikola Tesla that was later engraved by T. Johnson.
Samuel Clemens; the Lotos, Salmagundi and Tile Clubs
Sarony took numerous photographs of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain).[3] Clemens and Sarony were in the same social circles and shared many mutual acquaintances. They both belonged to the Lotos Club in New York City. Sarony helped in the founding of the Salmagundi Club, an association of artists, and was also a member of the Tile Club, whose members included well-known authors and journalists. In 1883, English author Wilkie Collins dedicated his anti-vivisection book Heart and Science to Sarony. In 1884, Sarony was a participant in an April Fool's joke played on Clemens when George Washington Cable arranged for 150 of Clemens's friends to write to him simultaneously, requesting his autograph. As part of the joke, no stamps or envelopes were to be provided for a reply.
One of Sarony's portraits of writer Oscar Wilde became the subject of a U.S. Supreme Court case, Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co. v. Sarony 111 U.S. 53 (1884), in which the Court upheld the extension of copyright protection to photographs. Sarony sued Burrow-Giles after it used unauthorized lithographs of Oscar Wilde No. 18 in an advertisement, and won a judgment for $610 (the modern equivalent of just over $12,000) that was affirmed on appeal by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Sarony later photographed the Supreme Court itself, to celebrate the centennial of the federal judiciary in 1890.[3][5]
Family
Sarony was married twice. His first wife died in 1858; his second, Louie, reportedly shared his tendency towards eccentricity and preference for outlandish dress. She rented elaborate costumes that she wore during her daily afternoon walk through Washington Square, wearing them once before returning them.
His brother, Oliver François Xavier Sarony (1820–1879), was also a portrait photographer, working primarily in England, who died in 1879. Napoleon's son, Otto (1850–1903), continued the family name for a few years until his own death in 1903.
^"London Bound American Writers in England (1870 - 1916)". University of Delaware, library. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
"Napoleon Sarony Dead". New York Times. November 10, 1896.
External links
Article and rare pictures of Napoleon Sarony and his subject Mark Twain
Portrait of Oliver Sarony (1820-1879)
The Sarony Photographs of Oscar Wilde (complete)
January 20, 2023
napoleon, sarony, sarony, redirects, here, other, uses, sarony, disambiguation, march, 1821, november, 1896, american, lithographer, photographer, highly, popular, portrait, photographer, best, known, portraits, stars, late, 19th, century, american, theater, o. Sarony redirects here For other uses see Sarony disambiguation Napoleon Sarony March 9 1821 November 9 1896 1 was an American lithographer and photographer He was a highly popular portrait photographer best known for his portraits of the stars of late 19th century American theater His son Otto Sarony continued the family business as a theater and film star photographer Napoleon SaronySelf portrait late 19th centuryBorn 1821 03 09 March 9 1821Quebec Lower CanadaDiedNovember 9 1896 1896 11 09 aged 75 New York City New York United StatesNationalityAmericanKnown forPhotography Contents 1 Life 2 Associations 2 1 William T Sherman 2 2 Samuel Clemens the Lotos Salmagundi and Tile Clubs 2 3 Oscar Wilde 3 Family 4 See also 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksLife EditSarony was born in 1821 in Quebec then in the British colony of Lower Canada and moved to New York City around 1836 He worked as an illustrator for Currier and Ives before joining with James Major and starting his own lithography business Sarony amp Major in 1843 In 1845 James Major was replaced in Sarony amp Major by Henry B Major and the firm continued operating under that name until 1853 From 1853 to 1857 the firm was known as Sarony and Company and from 1857 to 1867 as Sarony Major amp Knapp Sarony left the firm in 1867 and established a photography studio at 37 Union Square during a time when celebrity portraiture was a popular fad 2 3 Photographers would pay their famous subjects to sit for them and then retain full rights to sell the pictures Sarony reportedly paid the internationally famous stage actress Sarah Bernhardt 1 500 to pose for his camera equivalent to 45 239 in 2021 3 In 1894 he published a portfolio of prints entitled Sarony s Living Pictures Associations EditIncluded among the thousands of people that came into Sarony s world were many distinguished people such as American Civil War General William T Sherman and literary figures Samuel Clemens Mark Twain Lew Wallace and Oscar Wilde Sarony also took a photograph of the great American inventor Nikola Tesla that was later engraved by T Johnson William T Sherman Edit William T Sherman Sarony 1888 In 1888 Sarony photographed William T Sherman three years before he died in 1891 Sarony s photograph would be used as a model for the engraving of the first Sherman Postage stamp 4 Samuel Clemens the Lotos Salmagundi and Tile Clubs EditSarony took numerous photographs of Samuel Clemens Mark Twain 3 Clemens and Sarony were in the same social circles and shared many mutual acquaintances They both belonged to the Lotos Club in New York City Sarony helped in the founding of the Salmagundi Club an association of artists and was also a member of the Tile Club whose members included well known authors and journalists In 1883 English author Wilkie Collins dedicated his anti vivisection book Heart and Science to Sarony In 1884 Sarony was a participant in an April Fool s joke played on Clemens when George Washington Cable arranged for 150 of Clemens s friends to write to him simultaneously requesting his autograph As part of the joke no stamps or envelopes were to be provided for a reply Oscar Wilde Edit Oscar Wilde No 18 1882 the subject of Sarony s copyright infringement lawsuit that reached the U S Supreme Court One of Sarony s portraits of writer Oscar Wilde became the subject of a U S Supreme Court case Burrow Giles Lithographic Co v Sarony 111 U S 53 1884 in which the Court upheld the extension of copyright protection to photographs Sarony sued Burrow Giles after it used unauthorized lithographs of Oscar Wilde No 18 in an advertisement and won a judgment for 610 the modern equivalent of just over 12 000 that was affirmed on appeal by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court Sarony later photographed the Supreme Court itself to celebrate the centennial of the federal judiciary in 1890 3 5 Family EditSarony was married twice His first wife died in 1858 his second Louie reportedly shared his tendency towards eccentricity and preference for outlandish dress She rented elaborate costumes that she wore during her daily afternoon walk through Washington Square wearing them once before returning them His brother Oliver Francois Xavier Sarony 1820 1879 was also a portrait photographer working primarily in England who died in 1879 Napoleon s son Otto 1850 1903 continued the family name for a few years until his own death in 1903 Sarony was buried in Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn 3 See also EditMathew Brady Alfred Cheney JohnstonGallery Edit Oscar Wilde Joseph Jefferson as Rip Van Winkle 1869 Actress Sarah Bernhardt Sarah Bernhardt as Cleopatra 1891 Nikola Tesla 1850 print by Sarony and Major Artist Thomas Moran ca 1890 1896 photo of James Huneker c 1890 Sarony s Centennial Tableaux showing young woman making U S Flag on sewing machine c1876 Stephen Grover Cleveland 1882 Princeton University Art Museum Jasper Francis Cropsey c 1870References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Napoleon Sarony Napoleon Sarony National Portrait Gallery Smithsonian Institution Retrieved January 16 2015 Sarony Studio Broadway Photographs Retrieved November 13 2010 a b c d e Schmidt Barbara Mark Twain Napoleon Sarony and The damned old libel twainquotes com Retrieved November 13 2010 Scott US Stamp catalogue identifier full citation needed London Bound American Writers in England 1870 1916 University of Delaware library Retrieved November 13 2010 Napoleon Sarony Dead New York Times November 10 1896 External links EditA Biographical Chronology for Napoleon Sarony Article and rare pictures of Napoleon Sarony and his subject Mark Twain Portrait of Oliver Sarony 1820 1879 The Sarony Photographs of Oscar Wilde complete Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Napoleon Sarony amp oldid 1124916464, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
