Very rare and legendary portrait of the writer by Nadar, during the years of writing his novel L’Éducation sentimentale

[FLAUBERT] Paul NADAR (1856-1939)

Late print depicting Flaubert in bust
[Paris, c. 1910], cabinet format, laminated on thick cardboard to the photographer's credit
Near fine condition except for a very slight defect on the right part of the portrait
"Flaubert" inscribed on verso by an unknown person
Stamp on verso: "E. Hautecœur – 35 avenue de l'Opéra – Paris"

Very rare and legendary portrait of the writer by Nadar, during the years of writing his novel L'Éducation sentimentale

Flaubert's iconography is limited, to say the least. Only four photographic portraits of the writer are known:
-Two portraits by Étienne Carjat in Italian format, taken during two different sessions
-A portrait in profile by Giacomo Borelli, probably taken during the Universal Exhibition of 1867, which Flaubert attended
-A portrait by Felix Nadar, of bust in three quarters (the one presented here)

Paul Nadar, son of Félix Nadar (1820-1910) had begun to collaborate with his father in 1886. This late print is therefore based on the one taken by Felix between 1865 and 1869.

Flaubert's photographic portraits, even later prints, are of great rarity.

When Flaubert died on May 8, 1880, his face was unknown. He is an exception in a century where the face of the artist has multiplied through engraving and photography. The absence of an image results from the express will of the author: he refused, consistently, to "deliver" his head to the public.

Reference:
Album Gustave Flaubert, éd. Yvan Leclerc, Pléiade, p. 184, n°147