Finding aid for the Félix Moulin Algérie album and loose photographs, 1856-1889
Beth Ann Guynn
Descriptive Summary
Title: Félix Moulin Algérie album and loose photographs
Date (inclusive): 1856-1889
Number: 2021.R.6
Creator/Collector:
Moulin, Félix Jacques
Antoine, 1802-1879
Physical Description:
3 Linear Feet
2 boxes (1 album and 14 loose photographs)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10020/askref
(310) 440-7390
Abstract: The collection comprises an album
entitled Algérie containing 25 albumen photographs by
Félix-Jacques-Antoine Moulin and 14 loose albumen prints of Algeria, ten of which are by
Moulin, along with one photograph each by P. Famin & Cie (Paul Famin) and Veuve Plasse
& Oberty, and two photographs by unidentified photographers.
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Language: Collection material is in
French .
Biographical / Historical
The French photographer, Félix-Jacques-Antoine Moulin was born in 1802. Little is known
regarding his training as a photographer, but by 1849 Moulin was selling daguerreotypes of
nudes from his Paris studio at 31 bis rue du Faubourg Montmartre. Purportedly created as
academy or nude studies for use by artists, Moulin's images seemed to have had a wider
audience and his sitters were often teenage girls. In 1851, his premises along with those of
Jules Malacrida, an optician and dealer, and Mme. veuve René, another daguerreotypist, were
raided. The three were tried together for the possession and sale of "obscene objects" in a
closed-door session of the Cour d'assises de la Seine. Moulin was sentenced to a month in
prison and fined 100 francs. After his release Moulin reopened his studio using another
entrance that went through 23, rue Richer. Throughout his career Moulin continued to produce
and exhibit female nudes, protercting himself by placing copies of them on legal deposit at
the Bibliothèque Impériale, Paris.
Moulin's photographic output also included portraits, genre subjects, scenic views, and
views of monuments. He also printed the work of other photographers, and in 1856 acquired
the rights to Roger Fenton's photographs of the Crimean War.
In March 1856, Moulin made an eighteen-month trip to Algeria where he traveled across the
provinces of Oran, Algiers, and Constantine. Carrying a letter of introduction from the
French Minister of War to help facilitate travel in the country, and accompanied by
Alexandre Quinet, a distant relative, Moulin used modestly-sized collodion glass negatives
to produce the first extensive body of photographs of Algeria. He recorded the Algerian
landscape, urban views, ancient sites, and the recent transformations to the country
undertaken by the French, as well as Algeria's diverse indigenous population.
Moulin returned to Paris with more than 450 negatives, 300 of which he published in three
volumes entitled
L'Algérie photographiée (1858). A further
edition comprising 448 photographs and eight panoramas and for which no extant copies have
been located was apparently published in 1859. Additionally, extensive excerpts from his
letters from Algeria were published in
La Lumière and some of
his photographs were reproduced as engravings in
L'Illustration in 1858.
Having found favor with Napoléon III, as Moulin noted in his prospectus for the 1858
publication ("Cette publication destinée à populariser l'Algérie, a été accueillie avec
faveur par S. M. Napoléon III, qui a bien voulu en accepter la dédicace") Moulin's
photographs helped to consolidate the territory in the French colonial imagination. The
newly created Ministry of Algeria under the emperor's cousin, Prince Napoléon-Jérôme,
fostered further interest in Moulin's suite of photographs.
After 1858, Moulin continued to exhibit his photographs, but produced little new work. In
1862, he announced his retirement and put his studio up for sale. He died around 1875.
Sources consulted:
______. "Félix-Jacques-Antoine Moulin (1802 - après 1875)."
http://expositions.bnf.fr/napol/grand/057.htm
Donald Rosenthal, "Moulin, Félix-Jacques-Antoine," In: John Hannavay, editor.
Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-century Photography. United Kingdom:
Taylor & Francis Group, 2008, vol. II, p.945-946.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Félix Moulin Algérie album and loose photographs, 1856-1889, The Getty Research Institute,
Los Angeles, accession no. 2021.R.6.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2021r6
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired in 2021.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Beth Ann Guynn in 2021.
Digitized Material
The collection was digtized in 2022 and the finding aid is available online:
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2021r6
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection comprises an album entitled
Algérie
containing 25 albumen photographs by Félix-Jacques-Antoine Moulin and 14 loose albumen
prints of Algeria, ten of which are by Moulin, along with one photograph each by P. Famin
& Cie (Paul Famin) and Veuve Plasse & Oberty, and two photographs by unidentified
photographers.
Included in the album are views of Algiers, Biskra, Blida, Batna, Cherchell, Constantine,
Philippeville (Skida), Tébessa, and Tlemcen in Algeria and one view of Tunis. Also included
is a group portrait of Monsignor Pavy, the bishop of Algiers, standing with his vicars in
the bishop's gallery, and one of General MacMahon, a Commander of the Order of the Légion
d'honneur, who had spent much of his military career in Algeria, with Commander Borel.
The loose photographs by Moulin include views of Algiers, Blida, Tlemcen, and Oran, as well
a group portrait of Marshall Randon, Governor-General of Algerie from 1851 to 1858, with
other military figures, and one of Monsignor Pavy seated with his vicars. The photographs by
other photographers are of Algiers, Lambessa, and Batna.
Many of Moulin's images make direct or indirect reference to the French colonial presence
in Algeria, which in the case of several images is reinforced by their extensive
accompanying captions. The French administrative presence is palpable in a group portrait of
Maréchal Comte Randon, governor general of Algeria, and his staff, while "Place du
Gouvernement et Mosquée de la Pêcherie, à Alger" documents the wholesale rebuilding of
Algiers to accommodate the colonial infrastructure.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series:
Series I.
Moulin, Félix, Algérie album, 1856-1857;
Series II. Loose photographs,
1856-1889.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
MacMahon, Edme Patrice Maurice, comte de,
1808-1893
Randon, Jacques Louis César
Alexandre, comte, 1795-1871
Subjects - Corporate Bodies
P. Famin & Cie
Veuve Plasse & Oberty
Subjects - Topics
Colonial administators -- Algeria --
Portraits
Mosques -- Algeria
Architecture -- Algeria
Subjects - Places
Algeria -- Description and travel
Tunisia -- Description and travel
Genres and Forms of Material
Albumen prints -- Algeria -- 19th century
Group portraits -- Algeria -- 19th century
Photograph albums -- Algeria -- 19th century
Photographs, Original.
Contributors
Moulin, Félix Jacques
Antoine, 1802-1879
Series I.
Moulin, Félix,
Algérie album,
1856-1857
Physical Description:
1
box
(1 album containing 25
photographs)
Scope and Content Note
Titles are from the nineteenth-century printed labels affixed to the mount below the
image. Consequently, some titles may include language now considered to be racist or
biased. The photographs are numberd on the label 1-25.
Arrangement
In original order.
Box 1, Page Front
paste-down
2021.R.6-fpe
Front paste-down endpapers
Box 1, Page 1 recto
2021.R.6-1r
Façade de la Grande Mosquée, rue de la Marine, Alger
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 2 recto
2021.R.6-2r
Fontaine des ablutions, cour de la Grande Mosquée, Alger
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 3 recto
2021.R.6-3r
Monseign.r Pavy C., évêché d'Alger et ses grands vicaires, (galerie de
l'èvêché), Alger
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 4 recto
2021.R.6-4r
Salon du procureur g.al, Alger
Scope and Content Note
I.e.: Salon du procureur général. Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 5 recto
2021.R.6-5r
Moulin arabe dans l'Oued-el-Kebir, près Blidah
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 6 recto
2021.R.6-6r
Le ruisseau des singes, gorges de la Chiffa, route de Médeah
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 7 recto
2021.R.6-7r
Café maure sur le bord de la mer, à Tipaza
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 8 recto
2021.R.6-8r
Pierres tumulaires et inscriptions trouvées à Cherchell
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 9 recto
2021.R.6-9r
Musée de Cherchell, fragments trouvés dans les fouilles & dont quelques
uns révèlent des chefs d'œuvres
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 10 recto
2021.R.6-10r
Constantine près du Mansoura
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. C.
Box 1, Page 11 recto
2021.R.6-11r
Constantine, le pont romain, (El Kantara) près du ravin
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. C.
Box 1, Page 12 recto
2021.R.6-12r
La cascade et le moulin Lávy, Constantine
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. C.
Box 1, Page 13 recto
2021.R.6-13r
Gorge d'El Kantara et le pont romain, entrée du desert, vue prise en arrivant
de Batna, Sahara
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. C.
Box 1, Page 14 recto
2021.R.6-14r
Palmiers, tentes et village, oasis de Biskra, Sahara
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. C.
Box 1, Page 15 recto
2021.R.6-15r
Gourbis nègres, oasis de Biskra, Sahara
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. C.
Box 1, Page 16 recto
2021.R.6-16r
Medracen, tombeau des rois numides, subd.on de Batna
Scope and Content Note
I.e.: Medracen, tombeau des rois numides, subdivision de Batna. Printed on label
after number: Pr. C.
Box 1, Page 17 recto
2021.R.6-17r
Arc de triomphe de Caracalla, pris à l'intérieur, Tebessa
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. C.
Box 1, Page 18 recto
2021.R.6-18r
Ancienne statue de Caracalla trouvée à Philippeville
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. C.
Box 1, Page 19 recto
2021.R.6-19r
Vue du Château Neuf et d'une partie de la ville, prise du bord de la mer,
Oran
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. O.
Box 1, Page 20 recto
2021.R.6-20r
Djemma el-Afra, Tlemcen
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. O.
Box 1, Page 21 recto
2021.R.6-21r
Porte d'Aghadir, Tlemcen
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. O.
Box 1, Page 22 recto
2021.R.6-22r
Tunis, vue prise de la casbah
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. O.
Box 1, Page 23 recto
2021.R.6-23r
Gén.l de MacMahon G.C., Comm.t Borel
Scope and Content Note
I.e. Général de MacMahon G.C., Commandant Borel. Printed on label after number: Pr.
A.
Box 1, Page 24 recto
2021.R.6-24r
Mauresques & négresse d'Algérie fumant le narguilé
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. A.
Box 1, Page 25 recto
2021.R.6-25r
La partie d'échecs, Oran
Scope and Content Note
Printed on label after number: Pr. O.
Box 1, Page Back
paste-down
2021.R.6-bpe
Back paste-down endpapers
Series II.
Loose photographs,
1856-1889
Physical Description:
1.5 linear
feet
Scope and Content Note
The series comprises 14 loose albumen prints of Algeria, ten of which are by Moulin,
along with one photograph each by P. Famin & Cie (Paul Famin) and Veuve Plasse &
Oberty, and two photographs by unidentified photographers.
Arrangement
No discernable order. Arranged by the archivist.
Box 2
Moulin, Félix,
between 1856 and
1858
Scope and Content Note
Six photographs have printed titles and captions pasted on their mounts below the
image, numbered and with "Prov. D'Alger" present in the upper left corner; one has a
printed label with title affixed to the lower right corner of the mount; and three
have the label affixed to the lower right corner of the mount versos.
2021.R.6-1
Le Maréchal Comte Randon, G.C., gouverneur général de l'Algérie
Scope and Content Note
No. 1. With lengthy caption.
2021.R.6-2
Monseigneur Pavy, G. évêque d'Alger et ses grands vicaires, galerie de
l'évêché
Scope and Content Note
No. 7. With lengthy caption.
2021.R.6-3
Place du Gouvernement et mosquée de la Pêcherie à Alger
Scope and Content Note
No. 15. With lengthy caption.
2021.R.6-4
Mosquée de Sidi Abd-er-Rahman et rempart d'Alger, vue prise de la
route
Scope and Content Note
No 22. With wet stamp on verso: Collection Photographique G. Gimon.
2021.R.6-5
Entrée de la casbah d'Alger
Scope and Content Note
No. 25. With lengthy caption.
2021.R.6-6
Bois sacré, près de Blidah
Scope and Content Note
No. 97.
2021.R.6-7
Kolea: Vue prise de l'hôpital militaire
Scope and Content Note
Printed label affixed to lower right corner of mount; number not filled in, with
"Pr. A" printed in corner. With wet stamp on verso: Collection Photographique G.
Gimon, and Moulin's (?) blind stamp in upper left corner of mount.
2021.R.6-8
Mauresque et nêgresse, d'Alger, costume de ville
Scope and Content Note
Printed label affixed to lower right corner of mount; number not filled in, with
"Pr. A" printed in corner.
2021.R.6-9
Diffa au camp près Tlemcen
Scope and Content Note
Printed label affixed to lower right corner of mount; number not filled in, with
"Pr. O" printed in corner. A ceremonial meeting between Arab leaders and French
military leaders takes place around a tent pitched in front of medieval ruins at
Mansoura. Two French women stand under the canopy of the tent with a brazier holding
a large skewered joint in front of them. Standing to their left is a French officer
with a bandaged head, with an Arab leader next to him. The Arab contingent stands to
the left side of the tent and French military officers are in formation on its right
side. Additional Arab men and boys sit in the foreground facing the tent.
2021.R.6-10
Oran, vue prise du cimetière
Scope and Content Note
Printed label affixed to lower right corner of mount; number not filled in, with
"Pr. O" printed in corner.
Box 2
2021.R.6-11
P. Famin & Cie, [Cemetery with Boy and Palm Trees, Algeria],
1870s or
1880s
Scope and Content Note
Photographer's imprint on mount, lower right corner: P. Famin & Cie / 8, rue
Bab-Azoun, Alger. Wet stamp on verso: Collection Photographique G. Gimon.
Box 2
2021.R.6-12
Veuve Plasse & Oberty, Ruines de Lambessa, province de
Constantine,
1860s
Scope and Content Note
Title from caption printed on mount below image. Printed above image: Algérie.
Photographer's imprint on mount: Vve. Plasse et Oberty, photographes-éditeurs.
Constantine, rue Damrémont, 54 et rue des Moyens, 15. Numbered in negative: 106.
Box 2
Photographer unidentified,
1860s or
1870s
Scope and Content Note
Two views of Batna by the same photographer as evidenced by photographic and mount
styles.
2021.R.6-13
[Aerial View of Batna Looking towards Mountains]
Scope and Content Note
Wet stamp on verso: Collection Photographique G. Gimon.
2021.R.6-14
[Houses in Batna]
