Skip to content

Bisson Frères

Selected Works Biography Exhibitions Back

Slideshow Thumbnails
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie BISSON (BISSON FRÈRES) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) Cloister at Moissac*, circa 1859 Albumen print from a collodion negative 35.0 x x 44.5 cm mounted on 37.1 x 51.5 cm paper Bisson Freres monogram blindstamp

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
Cloister at Moissac, circa 1859
Albumen print from a collodion negative
35.0 x x 44.5 cm mounted on 37.1 x 51.5 cm paper
Bisson Freres monogram blindstamp

Louis-Auguste Bisson began his career as an architect for the city of Paris until photography lured him away. In 1855 he established a studio in Paris with his younger brother, Auguste-Rosalie. This led to one of the era's most prolific photographic firms. The brothers began their partnership photographing painting and sculpture before turning their lends to architectural photography and recording historic monuments throughout Europe.

The Abbey of Saint-Pierre in Moissac is one of the oldest monastic complexes in the southwest of France. The exact date of its foundation is unknown, but according to legend it was founded by the Merovingian King Clovis I (466-511). The cloister and the earlier abbey church were included in the first list of the historical monuments of France to be protected in 1840. In this atmospheric image, the photographers take advantage of the linear perspective to depict the rhythm of the cloister's interior. 

Inquire
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie BISSON (BISSON FRÈRES) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) Entablature fragment, Temple of Vespasian, Rome, circa 1857 Coated salt or albumen print from a glass negative 44.4 x 34.6 cm mounted on 70.9 x 54.8 cm paper Bisson Frères blindstamp. Signature stamp in red ink, and inscribed "226 - Détail provenant du Temple de Vespasien Entablement" in pencil, on mount.

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
Entablature fragment, Temple of Vespasian, Rome, circa 1857
Coated salt or albumen print from a glass negative
44.4 x 34.6 cm mounted on 70.9 x 54.8 cm paper
Bisson Frères blindstamp. Signature stamp in red ink, and inscribed "226 - Détail provenant du Temple de Vespasien Entablement" in pencil, on mount.

This photograph by Bisson Frères documents the cast made from the only surviving entablature fragment from the Temple of Vespasian. Housed in the Tabularium, the fragment bears the motifs of sacrificial utensils and includes parts of an inscription identifying the temple's original dedication to the Emperor Vespasian in 79 AD.

Inquire
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie BISSON (BISSON FRÈRES) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) Royal Portal with Old Testament figures, Chartres Cathedral, 1857 Coated salt print from a glass negative 45.7 x 36.5 cm mounted on 59.7 x 46.1 cm paper Black "Bisson frères" signature stamp

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
Royal Portal with Old Testament figures, Chartres Cathedral, 1857
Coated salt print from a glass negative
45.7 x 36.5 cm mounted on 59.7 x 46.1 cm paper
Black "Bisson frères" signature stamp

Inquire
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie BISSON (BISSON FRÈRES) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) South porch, left portal, Chartres Cathedral, late 1850s Coated salt print from a glass negative 45.5 x 37.1 cm mounted on 59.7 x 46.1 cm paper Black "Bisson frères" signature stamp

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
South porch, left portal, Chartres Cathedral, late 1850s
Coated salt print from a glass negative
45.5 x 37.1 cm mounted on 59.7 x 46.1 cm paper
Black "Bisson frères" signature stamp

Inquire
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) Miter of St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse, 1850s Albumen print from a collodion negative 34.3 x 24.1 cm mounted on 57.0 x 40.1 cm paper Printed "BISSON FRÈRES PHOTOG." on mount St. Louis of Toulouse (1274-1297) was born in Brignoles, Provence, the second son of Charles II d'Anjou, King of Naples. When his older brother died in 1295, Louis became heir to his father's secular titles, but he gave up all claims to his royal inheritance in favor of his brother, Robert of Anjou. Louis took the Franciscan vows and pursued a life of poverty and chastity. He was consecrated Bishop of Toulouse in 1297. The same year, at the age of 23, he died. His canonization took place in 1317. Relics of the saint are preserved in the church of Saint-Sauveur at Brignoles, including the miter reproduced in this photograph.

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
Miter of St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse, 1850s
Albumen print from a collodion negative
34.3 x 24.1 cm mounted on 57.0 x 40.1 cm paper
Printed "BISSON FRÈRES PHOTOG." on mount


St. Louis of Toulouse (1274-1297) was born in Brignoles, Provence, the second son of Charles II d'Anjou, King of Naples. When his older brother died in 1295, Louis became heir to his father's secular titles, but he gave up all claims to his royal inheritance in favor of his brother, Robert of Anjou. Louis took the Franciscan vows and pursued a life of poverty and chastity. He was consecrated Bishop of Toulouse in 1297. The same year, at the age of 23, he died. His canonization took place in 1317. Relics of the saint are preserved in the church of Saint-Sauveur at Brignoles, including the miter reproduced in this photograph.

Inquire
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie BISSON (BISSON FRÈRES) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) Cloister at Moissac*, circa 1859 Albumen print from a collodion negative 35.0 x x 44.5 cm mounted on 37.1 x 51.5 cm paper Bisson Freres monogram blindstamp

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
Cloister at Moissac, circa 1859
Albumen print from a collodion negative
35.0 x x 44.5 cm mounted on 37.1 x 51.5 cm paper
Bisson Freres monogram blindstamp

Louis-Auguste Bisson began his career as an architect for the city of Paris until photography lured him away. In 1855 he established a studio in Paris with his younger brother, Auguste-Rosalie. This led to one of the era's most prolific photographic firms. The brothers began their partnership photographing painting and sculpture before turning their lends to architectural photography and recording historic monuments throughout Europe.

The Abbey of Saint-Pierre in Moissac is one of the oldest monastic complexes in the southwest of France. The exact date of its foundation is unknown, but according to legend it was founded by the Merovingian King Clovis I (466-511). The cloister and the earlier abbey church were included in the first list of the historical monuments of France to be protected in 1840. In this atmospheric image, the photographers take advantage of the linear perspective to depict the rhythm of the cloister's interior. 

Inquire
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie BISSON (BISSON FRÈRES) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) Entablature fragment, Temple of Vespasian, Rome, circa 1857 Coated salt or albumen print from a glass negative 44.4 x 34.6 cm mounted on 70.9 x 54.8 cm paper Bisson Frères blindstamp. Signature stamp in red ink, and inscribed "226 - Détail provenant du Temple de Vespasien Entablement" in pencil, on mount.

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
Entablature fragment, Temple of Vespasian, Rome, circa 1857
Coated salt or albumen print from a glass negative
44.4 x 34.6 cm mounted on 70.9 x 54.8 cm paper
Bisson Frères blindstamp. Signature stamp in red ink, and inscribed "226 - Détail provenant du Temple de Vespasien Entablement" in pencil, on mount.

This photograph by Bisson Frères documents the cast made from the only surviving entablature fragment from the Temple of Vespasian. Housed in the Tabularium, the fragment bears the motifs of sacrificial utensils and includes parts of an inscription identifying the temple's original dedication to the Emperor Vespasian in 79 AD.

Inquire
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie BISSON (BISSON FRÈRES) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) Royal Portal with Old Testament figures, Chartres Cathedral, 1857 Coated salt print from a glass negative 45.7 x 36.5 cm mounted on 59.7 x 46.1 cm paper Black "Bisson frères" signature stamp

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
Royal Portal with Old Testament figures, Chartres Cathedral, 1857
Coated salt print from a glass negative
45.7 x 36.5 cm mounted on 59.7 x 46.1 cm paper
Black "Bisson frères" signature stamp

Inquire
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie BISSON (BISSON FRÈRES) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) South porch, left portal, Chartres Cathedral, late 1850s Coated salt print from a glass negative 45.5 x 37.1 cm mounted on 59.7 x 46.1 cm paper Black "Bisson frères" signature stamp

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
South porch, left portal, Chartres Cathedral, late 1850s
Coated salt print from a glass negative
45.5 x 37.1 cm mounted on 59.7 x 46.1 cm paper
Black "Bisson frères" signature stamp

Inquire
Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900) Miter of St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse, 1850s Albumen print from a collodion negative 34.3 x 24.1 cm mounted on 57.0 x 40.1 cm paper Printed "BISSON FRÈRES PHOTOG." on mount St. Louis of Toulouse (1274-1297) was born in Brignoles, Provence, the second son of Charles II d'Anjou, King of Naples. When his older brother died in 1295, Louis became heir to his father's secular titles, but he gave up all claims to his royal inheritance in favor of his brother, Robert of Anjou. Louis took the Franciscan vows and pursued a life of poverty and chastity. He was consecrated Bishop of Toulouse in 1297. The same year, at the age of 23, he died. His canonization took place in 1317. Relics of the saint are preserved in the church of Saint-Sauveur at Brignoles, including the miter reproduced in this photograph.

Louis-Auguste & Auguste-Rosalie Bisson (Bisson Frères) (French, 1814-1876 & 1826-1900)
Miter of St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse, 1850s
Albumen print from a collodion negative
34.3 x 24.1 cm mounted on 57.0 x 40.1 cm paper
Printed "BISSON FRÈRES PHOTOG." on mount


St. Louis of Toulouse (1274-1297) was born in Brignoles, Provence, the second son of Charles II d'Anjou, King of Naples. When his older brother died in 1295, Louis became heir to his father's secular titles, but he gave up all claims to his royal inheritance in favor of his brother, Robert of Anjou. Louis took the Franciscan vows and pursued a life of poverty and chastity. He was consecrated Bishop of Toulouse in 1297. The same year, at the age of 23, he died. His canonization took place in 1317. Relics of the saint are preserved in the church of Saint-Sauveur at Brignoles, including the miter reproduced in this photograph.

Inquire
Back To Top