Charles Marville - Sérapéum de Memphis

Charles Marville was a French photographer born in Paris on 17 July 1813. He began his career as an illustrator and lithographer before turning to photography in the 1850s. Marville quickly gained recognition for his images of Parisian architecture, streets and monuments, which he captured with a keen eye for detail and composition. In 1858, Marville was appointed official photographer of the City of Paris, charged with documenting the urban development and transformation of the city under the direction of Baron Haussmann. Over the next decade, Marville produced thousands of photographs documenting the demolition of old neighbourhoods and the construction of new boulevards, parks and public buildings. Marville's photographs are characterised by their technical precision and artistic sensibility. He used large-format cameras and meticulous printing techniques to create highly detailed images that captured the texture and character of the city. His work has been praised for its documentary value as well as its aesthetic appeal. Today, Marville is considered one of the most important photographers of 19th century France. His photographs are in the collections of major museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

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