Pierre-Louis Pierson Facts for Kids

Pierre-Louis Pierson (born December 13, 1822, in Hinckange, France; died March 22, 1913, in Paris) was a famous French photographer. He was especially known for taking amazing portraits. His photography studio was in the heart of Paris, at 5, boulevard des Capucines.

The Life of Pierre-Louis Pierson
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The Life of Pierre-Louis Pierson

Starting Out in Photography

Pierson became interested in photography very early on, in the 1840s. This was when photography was still a brand new invention! He opened his own photography studio in Paris by 1844. He quickly earned a strong reputation for his work. For many years, his studio was located at 5, boulevard des Capucines. There, he worked with two brothers, Léopold-Ernest Mayer and Louis-Frédéric Mayer. Together, their company grew into a very successful business.

Photographer for the Emperor

At first, the Pierson-Mayer studio used a method called daguerreotype. This was an early type of photography. Their studio soon became one of the first to specialize in portrait photos that were then colored with watercolors or oils. The French Emperor Napoléon III especially liked their studio. He started using them often after he created the Second French Empire in 1852.

Pierson took many pictures of the French imperial family. This was during the most powerful time of the Second Empire. Between 1855 and 1862, the Pierson-Mayer studio was very popular. People from all walks of life came to have their pictures taken there. This included the emperor's court, rich families, powerful business people, actresses, and musicians. Pierson and the Mayer brothers even photographed the kings of Württemburg, Portugal, and Sweden. After 1862, their customers became even more diverse. By 1866, people from all social backgrounds visited their studio.

Working with the Countess of Castiglione

Photograph of the Countess of Castiglione by Pierre-Louis Pierson in the 1860s.

Pierson first met the Countess of Castiglione in 1856. He became her official photographer for forty years! In 1867, Pierson showed his portrait of the Countess at a big exhibition in Paris. In this photo, she was dressed as the Queen of Hearts.

Pierson and the Countess worked together very closely between 1861 and 1867. She became very skilled at posing and creating different characters. With Pierson's help, she created many different personalities. She would pose as a madonna, a sad woman, a mother, or a stylish woman in fancy outfits. They would experiment with different dresses, hairstyles, and poses to create dramatic effects. They even used mirrors to show different sides of her at the same time!

These photos were a secret between the Countess and Pierson during her lifetime. Between 1856 and 1895, the Countess posed for over 450 portraits. This huge collection of photos was very unusual for the time. It was one of the first examples of someone taking so many "self-portraits" through a photographer.

Joining the Braun Company

In 1878, Pierson started a business partnership with his son-in-law, Gaston Braun. Gaston was the heir to the Braun Company. Together, they managed to save the company, called Société Adolphe Braun et Compagnie, from failing. From that point on, Pierson's collection of photographs belonged to the Braun company.

In 1883, the Braun company made a special agreement with the Louvre museum. They got the exclusive right to photograph about 7,000 artworks from the museum for 30 years. These photographs then became the property of the French government. In return, the Braun company became the official photographers for the Louvre.

In 1889, the company changed its name to Braun, Clément & Compagnie. Their main studio was rebuilt and got electricity between 1897 and 1899. By 1910, the company was renamed Braun et Compagnie. By this time, they had already opened a branch studio in New York and would open another in London the next year.