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Albert Levy (photographer)
Encyclopedia
Albert Levy is a French
photographer active in the 1870s-1890s. He is a pioneer on architectural photography
that focused his work in Europe and the United States.
He developed a catalogue with 2500 titles that can be found in the Gallica web project of Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)
as well as in the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
. His catalogue covers France, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States.
He was one of the first photographers to have a study at both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, in Paris and New York.
His main contribution to history documentation is the 1870s "Albert Levy's architectural photographic Series" that consists of albums with 30-40 albumen photos of the Architecture of the United States
, with a size of 20x24 cm approximately. There are around 36 series.
In 1880's United States Federal Census he was registered as bookseller.
His main occupation was photographer. active between 1870s-1890s He was also working in France in 1876 and in the United States in 1880s-1890s.
He was one of the few photographers to have two studios at the same time in America and Europe. Actually, he had several studios:
Apart from photographer and bookseller, he was also pioneer in the manufacture of the gelatin dry plates
in 1878
Because of the work he developed he was an early competitor of George Eastman
.
Finally, he was an editor whose catalogue is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France(BnF)
and in the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
.
The took albumen photographies that collected with the following standards:
He focused his work on the new buildings of important architects like:
Important owners of the buildings he took photos are William Henry Vanderbilt
, Cornelius Vanderbilt
, William Kissam Vanderbilt
, Samuel J. Tilden
, Oliver Ames
, John Harjés.
His most important contribution to history consists on the "Albert Levy's Architectural photographic series" that are a collection of at least 36 albums with 30-40 albumen prints of the architecture of the United States in the 1870s. In these series there are photos of Washington, Baltimore, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Albany, Chicago, Cleveland, Brooklyn N.Y., Rochester, Buffalo, Detroit and Milwaukee among others.
He used to create the series depending on the type of buildings been photographed. Some of the series are:
This unique archive of the Architecture of the United States in the 19th century was lately edited by Andre, Daly fils et Cie. (French editors specialized in Architecture) to collect the best of the Albert Levy's architectural series in the album "L'Architecture Americaine" and show it in Europe. This collection consists of 3 series of albums:
Each series has 36 photos. All of them are described in the book "American Victorian Architecture".
. Browse for "Levy".
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
photographer active in the 1870s-1890s. He is a pioneer on architectural photography
Architectural photography
Architectural photography is the practice of photographing buildings and similar structures, both inside and out. Architectural photographs are usually produced by Architectural photographers, who are skilled in the use of specialized techniques and equipment...
that focused his work in Europe and the United States.
He developed a catalogue with 2500 titles that can be found in the Gallica web project of Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)
BNF
BNF may stand for:In science:*Biological nitrogen fixation, a process that converts nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia*British National Formulary, the standard drug reference manual**British National Formulary for Children...
as well as in the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
The Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library is one of twenty-five libraries in the Columbia University Library System and is located in Avery Hall on the Morningside Heights campus of Columbia University in the City of New York. It is the largest architecture library in the world...
. His catalogue covers France, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States.
He was one of the first photographers to have a study at both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, in Paris and New York.
His main contribution to history documentation is the 1870s "Albert Levy's architectural photographic Series" that consists of albums with 30-40 albumen photos of the Architecture of the United States
Architecture of the United States
The architecture of the United States demonstrates a broad variety of architectural styles and built forms over the country's history of over four centuries....
, with a size of 20x24 cm approximately. There are around 36 series.
Biography
Albert Levy was born in France in 1847 as the 1880s United States Federal Census demonstrates, showing that he was 33 years old in 1880. The New York Passengers list 1820–1957 indicates that he arrived to the United States in 1876 and his occupation was photographer. His parents were born in France.In 1880's United States Federal Census he was registered as bookseller.
Occupation
There are indications that Albert Levy was a photographer who also worked variously as bookseller, editor and manufacturer.His main occupation was photographer. active between 1870s-1890s He was also working in France in 1876 and in the United States in 1880s-1890s.
He was one of the few photographers to have two studios at the same time in America and Europe. Actually, he had several studios:
- 77 University Place, New York
- 4 Bond Street, New York in 1880
- 34½ Pine Street, New York in 1887
- 19 rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin, Paris
- 22 janvier 1901, A. Lévy, 4 av. Pinel, Asnières
Apart from photographer and bookseller, he was also pioneer in the manufacture of the gelatin dry plates
Dry plate
Dry plate, also known as gelatin process, is an improved type of photographic plate. It was invented by Dr. Richard L. Maddox in 1871, and by 1879 it was so well introduced that the first dry plate factory had been established...
in 1878
Because of the work he developed he was an early competitor of George Eastman
George Eastman
George Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
.
Finally, he was an editor whose catalogue is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France(BnF)
BNF
BNF may stand for:In science:*Biological nitrogen fixation, a process that converts nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia*British National Formulary, the standard drug reference manual**British National Formulary for Children...
and in the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
The Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library is one of twenty-five libraries in the Columbia University Library System and is located in Avery Hall on the Morningside Heights campus of Columbia University in the City of New York. It is the largest architecture library in the world...
.
Photography
The main occupation of Albert Levy was Architectural photography. He developed most of his work in the 1870s. He started working in Europe and then he move to the United States when he was 33 years old, but he still worked in Europe. His catalogue of 1887 (with 2500 titles) demonstrates that he did architectural photography in France, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States.The took albumen photographies that collected with the following standards:
- Albumen 20x24 cm
- Cardboard 29x41 cm
- Albums with 30-40 photos each
He focused his work on the new buildings of important architects like:
- Herter BrothersHerter BrothersThe firm of Herter Brothers, New York, , founded by Gustave and Christian Herter , begun as an upholstery warehouse, became one of the first firms of furniture makers and interior decorators in the United States after the Civil War...
- Twin Houses, New York - Richard Morris HuntRichard Morris HuntRichard Morris Hunt was an American architect of the nineteenth century and a preeminent figure in the history of American architecture...
- William Kissam VanderbiltWilliam Kissam VanderbiltWilliam Kissam Vanderbilt was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family. He managed railroads and was a horse breeder.-Biography:...
Residence, New York - George Browne Post - Cornelius VanderbiltCornelius VanderbiltCornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
Residence, New York - Henry Hobson RichardsonHenry Hobson RichardsonHenry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
- Oakes Ames Memorial Library, North Easton, Massachusetts - Calvert VauxCalvert VauxCalvert Vaux , was an architect and landscape designer. He is best remembered as the co-designer , of New York's Central Park....
- Samuel J. TildenSamuel J. TildenSamuel Jones Tilden was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, one of the most controversial American elections of the 19th century. He was the 25th Governor of New York...
ResidenceSamuel J. Tilden HouseThe Samuel J. Tilden House was the home of Samuel J. Tilden, former governor of the U.S. state of New York and fierce opponent of the Tweed Ring and Tammany Hall. Originally built in 1845, Tilden lived in the brownstone from 1860 until his death in 1885...
, New York - Charles B. AtwoodCharles B. AtwoodCharles B. Atwood was an architect who designed several buildings and a large number of secondary structures for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He also designed a number of notable buildings in the city of Chicago....
- Dr. Stewart Webb and H. McKinley Twombly residences, New York (originally for William Henry VanderbiltWilliam Henry VanderbiltWilliam Henry Vanderbilt I was an American businessman and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family.-Childhood:William Vanderbilt was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1821...
) - C. Pfeifer - The Berkshires, New York
- E. H. Kendall - Odgen Goelet residence, New York
- R.H.RobertsonRobert Henderson RobertsonRobert Henderson Robertson was an American architect who designed numerous houses, institutional buildings and churches.-Life and career:...
- Peabody and StearnsPeabody and StearnsPeabody & Stearns was a premier architectural firm in the Eastern United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the firm consisted of Robert Swain Peabody and John Goddard Stearns, Jr...
- Viollet le Duc
- William Le Baron JenneyWilliam Le Baron JenneyWilliam Le Baron Jenney was an American architect and engineer who became known as the Father of the American skyscraper.- Life and career :...
- Guerinot
Important owners of the buildings he took photos are William Henry Vanderbilt
William Henry Vanderbilt
William Henry Vanderbilt I was an American businessman and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family.-Childhood:William Vanderbilt was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1821...
, Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
, William Kissam Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family. He managed railroads and was a horse breeder.-Biography:...
, Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel Jones Tilden was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, one of the most controversial American elections of the 19th century. He was the 25th Governor of New York...
, Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames was a U.S. political figure and financier. He was the 35th Governor of Massachusetts . He was the son of Oakes Ames , a United States Congressman who was censured in the Credit Mobilier scandal, and the nephew of Oliver Ames, Jr..-Biography:Ames was born in North Easton, Massachusetts...
, John Harjés.
His most important contribution to history consists on the "Albert Levy's Architectural photographic series" that are a collection of at least 36 albums with 30-40 albumen prints of the architecture of the United States in the 1870s. In these series there are photos of Washington, Baltimore, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Albany, Chicago, Cleveland, Brooklyn N.Y., Rochester, Buffalo, Detroit and Milwaukee among others.
He used to create the series depending on the type of buildings been photographed. Some of the series are:
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: First Series, Private City Dwellings.
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Second Series, Country Dwellings.
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Third series, French Gothic and Renaissance, Civil and Domestic Architecture, New York
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Fifth Series, Messrs. Vanderbilt's Mansions
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Ninth Series, Street Fronts.
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Tenth Series, Sea Shore Cottages and Country Houses
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Twelfth Series, Modern Street Architecture of Berlin, Street Fronts and Apartment Houses.
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Sixteenth Series, American Private City Dwellings
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Thirty-First Series, Street Fronts, Stores, Office Buildings, Etc.
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Thirty-Third series, American City and Country Residences, etc., New York.
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Thirty-Fifth Series, Sea Shore Cottages And Country Houses, Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Maine
- Albert Levy's Photographic Series of Modern American Architecture: Thirty-Sixth Series, Sea-Shore Cottages, Etc., Newport, R.I., And Long Branch, N.J
This unique archive of the Architecture of the United States in the 19th century was lately edited by Andre, Daly fils et Cie. (French editors specialized in Architecture) to collect the best of the Albert Levy's architectural series in the album "L'Architecture Americaine" and show it in Europe. This collection consists of 3 series of albums:
- 1st Series: Public Buildings
- 2nd Series: Private Urban Residences
- 3rd Series: Suburban Homes
Each series has 36 photos. All of them are described in the book "American Victorian Architecture".
Artwork Holders
The main holders of his photos are:- Architektur Sammlung of the Technische Hochschule in MunichTechnical University of MunichThe Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
- Art Institute of ChicagoArt Institute of ChicagoThe School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
- Avery Architectural and Fine Arts LibraryAvery Architectural and Fine Arts LibraryThe Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library is one of twenty-five libraries in the Columbia University Library System and is located in Avery Hall on the Morningside Heights campus of Columbia University in the City of New York. It is the largest architecture library in the world...
- Bibliothèque nationale de France(BnF)BNFBNF may stand for:In science:*Biological nitrogen fixation, a process that converts nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia*British National Formulary, the standard drug reference manual**British National Formulary for Children...
- Boston Public LibraryBoston Public LibraryThe Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to...
- Centre Canadien d'ArchitectureCanadian Centre for ArchitectureThe Canadian Centre for Architecture is a museum of architecture and research centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Phyllis Lambert is the Founding Director and Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Mirko Zardini is the Director and Chief Curator....
- George Eastman HouseGeorge Eastman HouseThe George Eastman House is the world's oldest museum dedicated to photography and one of the world's oldest film archives, opened to the public in 1949 in Rochester, New York, USA. World-renowned for its photograph and motion picture archives, the museum is also a leader in film preservation and...
- Jean Paul Getty Museum
- Library of Congress of the United StatesLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
- Metropolitan Museum
- Ministère de Culture FranceMinister of Culture (France)The Minister of Culture is, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national museums and monuments; promoting and protecting the arts in France and abroad; and managing the national archives and regional "maisons de culture"...
- Santa Barbara Museum of ArtSanta Barbara Museum of ArtThe Santa Barbara Museum of Art is an art museum located at 1130 State St. in downtown Santa Barbara, California.It was founded in 1941 and currently ranks amongst the top 10 regional art museums in the United States . It is home to both permanent and special collections, the former of which...
- University of LouisvilleUniversity of LouisvilleThe University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Samples
Some examples of his work can be found at the HALIC old link or HALIC new link (Historical Architecture and Landscape Image Collection) of the Art Institute of ChicagoArt Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
. Browse for "Levy".