Ernest Meissonier c. 1860s

This is a portrait of Ernest Meissonier by Robert Jefferson Bingham, captured in a photograph of the mid-19th century. Meissonier, the celebrated painter, stands confidently, palette and brush in hand, beside his faithful dog. During this era, photography was emerging as both a documentary tool and an art form, often intertwined with social identity and status. Bingham, as a photographer, was in a unique position to capture the likeness of a renowned painter. The image tells us something about the artistic and social circles of the time. The photograph’s composition, with the artist in his domestic setting, complete with dog, easel, and painting, speaks to the way artists presented themselves and were perceived by society. Meissonier’s posture exudes the self-assuredness of a man at the height of his career. Consider how this image, a carefully constructed portrayal, reflects both personal identity and public persona in a rapidly changing world.