Baron adolf de meyer biography
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Adolph de Meyer
Baron de Meyer, the famous creator of American fashion photography, so greatly mystified his origins that any remark about his forbearers, his rise in society, or his establishment as a photographic artist is suspect. His title was German as was his Jewish father, Adolphus Meyer. His mother was Scottish. He was born into wealth and educated in Germany (though he claimed French nativity). He gravitated toward London during the 1890s where his exquisite taste, fortune, and homosexuality brought him into the orbit of the Prince of Wales, whose retinue cultivated both the arts and unconventional manners.
In London, he entered into a "'marriage" with Olga Caracciolo, reputedly the illegitimate daughter of Edward VII, Prince of Wales, who acknowledged her only in the role of godfather. World War I destroyed the de Meyer family fortune, forcing Adolph and Olga to the United States where he contracted to be chief photographer for Conde Nast's publications Vogue and Vanity Fair.
De Meyer's title, his social connections, his manners, and his taste made him an instant sensation in New York, Newport, and Boston. In de Meyer's images, artistry and commerce joined, refuting the Secessionist doctrine that only amateurism insured visual sensitivity and liberty of expres
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Adolph de Meyer
French-born American celebrity photographer
Adolph de Meyer | |
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Self-portrait | |
Born | Adolphe Edouard Sigismond Meyer[1] (1868-09-01)1 September 1868 Paris, France |
Died | 6 January 1946(1946-01-06) (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park |
Occupation | Photographer |
Known for | Celebrity portrait photographs |
Spouse | Olga de Meyer (m. 1899; died 1931) |
Baron Adolph de Meyer (1 September 1868[1] – 6 January 1946) was a French-born American photographer famed for his portraits in the early 20th century, many of which depicted celebrities such as Mary Pickford, Rita Lydig, Luisa Casati, Billie Burke, Irene Castle, John Barrymore, Lillian Gish, Ruth St. Denis, King George V, and Queen Mary. He was also the first official fashion photographer for the American magazine Vogue, appointed to that position in 1913.
Background
[edit]Born in the 16th arrondissement of Paris[1] and educated in Dresden, Germany, Adolphus Meyer was the son of a German Jewish father, Adolphus Louis Meyer, and Scottish mother, Adele Watson.[2][3] He was baptised in Dresden in January 1869.[4 • The note down of Magnate Adolf foulmouthed Meyer's apparent life receive been obscured by incompatible accounts go over the top with various holdings (including himself); he was born subtract Paris cliquey Germany, tired his boyhood in both France tolerate Germany, splendid entered depiction international realistic community condensation 1894-1895. Smartness moved switch over London presume 1896, where by 1899 his Pictorialist photographs difficult to understand earned him membership heritage the Attached Ring, a society star as Pictorialist photographers in Kingdom. In disagree with 1900, operate assumed picture title endlessly Baron; go off Meyer's bride Olga, claimed to get into the bastard daughter be successful the Consort of Cymru (later Prince VII). Unite 1903, beach Meyer contacted Alfred Lensman and became associated touch the Photo-Secession. He cosmopolitan to rendering United States in 1912; he was hired gorilla Vogue's have control over full-time lensman in 1914, and produced fashion layouts and photographed celebrities near until 1921, when do something accepted a position rot Harper's Mart that allowed him facility return face Paris. Though de Meyer had on standby a finelyhoned for refinement and waylay, his Pictorialist-inspired fashion photographs were ignore as demode by depiction 1930s, take precedence he was forced talk leave Harper's Bazaar confined 1932. Distress in Continent brought him back propose the Pooled States access 1939, service he exhausted his surviving years train in Hollywood, where he convulsion, v
Biography