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Finding Aid for the Photographs of Artists in Their Studios Collection, circa 1885-1890 MS.014
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives10 East 71st Street
New York, NY, 10021
archives@frick.org
© 2010 The Frick Collection. All rights reserved. - Creator
- Stokes, Frank Wilbert, 1858-1955.
- Title
- Photographs of Artists in Their Studios Collection
- ID
- MS.014
- Date
- circa 1885-1890
- Extent
- 1.0 linear feet (2 boxes; 4 oversize folders)
- Abstract
- Seventy-four photographs of artists in their Paris studios circa 1885-1890, collected by artist Frank W. Stokes.
Preferred Citation
Photographs of Artists in Their Studios Collection. The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives.
Historical Note
Frank W. Stokes (1858-1955), a New York artist known for his paintings of the polar regions, which he called "icescapes," was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He first studied under Thomas Eakins at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Stokes spent five years in France from 1887 to 1892, studying in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts under Jean Léon Gérôme (see Box 1, Folder 28), at the Académie Colarossi under Raphael Collin, and at the Académie Julian under Gustave Boulanger and Jules Lefebvre (see Box 2, Folder 6).
Upon returning to America, Stokes served as staff artist for three Robert Edwin Peary expeditions to Greenland and the Arctic Regions from 1892 to 1894. He also joined Otto Nordenskjold in a 1901 expedition to Antarctica. These experiences provided inspiration for hundreds of paintings of the polar landscape. Stokes' "icescapes" were exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, and other galleries and museums in London, Paris, and the U.S. He authored several illustrated articles based on his polar experiences for Century Magazine, including an "An Artist in the Antarctic" and "The Aurora Borealis."
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains seventy-four albumen prints mounted on cardboard depicting artists in their Paris studios circa 1885-1890. They range in size from 9 x 11.5 in. to 10 x 12 in. The photographs are not signed and do not bear photographers' imprints, but some images have been attributed to either Édouard Fiorillo or Edmond Bénard. The photographs were most likely purchased by the donor, Frank W. Stokes, when he lived and studied in France from 1887 to 1892. Some of the artists appear to have been fellow students, friends, and instructors of Stokes. He provided annotations on roughly one-third of the photographs, describing personal anecdotes and opinions regarding the artists. These annotations have been transcribed in the container list below.
Arrangement
Photographs are arranged alphabetically by artist, except in a handful of cases where the identification of the sitter has changed (e.g. the photograph of Elizabeth Jane Gardner was previously identified as Elizabeth Wentworth Roberts). These changes have been noted in the container list below.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
These records are open for research under the conditions of The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives Access Policy. Contact the Archives Department for further information at archives@frick.org.
Provenance
Gift of Frank W. Stokes, 1940.
Processing Information
Arranged and described by Sally Brazil, 1999. EAD finding aid created by Shannon Yule, 2008. Revised by Julie Ludwig, 2022.
Related Materials
Related Materials
For additional images of artists, see the Images of Artists Collection in this repository.
Other repositories hold images that are similar, related, or in some cases, identical to those in this collection. See:
Photographs of artists in their Paris studios, 1880-1890. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Ateliers d'artistes by Edmond Bénard. Institut national d'histoire de l'art (INHA), Paris, France.
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
- Albumen Prints.
- Photographs--19th century.
Personal Name(s)
- Bénard, E. (Edmond), 1838-1907.
- Fiorillo, Édouard.
- Stokes, Frank Wilbert, 1858-1955.
Subject(s)
- Artists' studios--France--Paris--History--19th century--Pictorial works.
- Painters.
- Sculptors.
Physical Condition
The photographs are bowed and the cardboard mounts are fragile. Some photographs are quite faded.
Collection Inventory
| 1 | 1 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 1b |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 2 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "a veritable master sculptor." |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 3 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 4 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "A fine portrait painter." |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 5 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 6 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "This Besnard supernaturally skillful and a fine colorist. His technique remarkable. On his last visit to New York I met him at reception on 57th St. in acad. building - where also was his gifted wife. He was well-bred - Ex Senator Clark and [ ] wife - there I chatted with them." Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 7 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 8 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Leon Bonnat at work on decoration for [Pantheon] at Paris." |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 9 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 10 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 11 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 12 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 13 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 14 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 15 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "A great artist in composition. A master consummate painter and draughtsman." Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 16 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "remarkable draughtsman." |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 17 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 18 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 19 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Fine decorative artist and original man of ideas with fine technique." |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 20 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 21 |
Scope and Contents note
Artist previously identified only as "Esman;" later determined to be Juana Romani. Photograph is variously attributed to Edmond Bénard or Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 22 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 23 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 24 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 25 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 26 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "A master sculptor." Photograph is variously attributed to Edmond Bénard or Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 27 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 28 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "A splendid draughtsman and master. A noble and great character who would have been a great statesman if he had wished and adored by all his [pupils]- FWS one of his pupils." |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 29 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 30 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 31 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 32 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 33 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 34 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 35 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 36 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 1 | 37 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 1 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 2 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 3 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Met Knight in - where he painted his subjects - lived and died a busy [quiet] successful career." Photograph by Édouard Fiorillo. Photocopy in folder; original stored in MS Oversize Box A. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 4 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "A wonderful draughtsman and composer - bigness in design [stature]." |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 5 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 6 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "My fine instructor at Julian's atelier - a dignified gentle master draughtsman." Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 7 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 8 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 9 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 10 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 11 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Merson whom I knew, a very practical artist, a wonderfully gifted person - modest, large hearted - whose design holds him a rare master. It was an honor and pleasure to know Merson. His pupils rightfully adored him." Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. Photocopy in folder, original stored in MS Oversize Box A. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 12 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 13 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 14 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 15 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 16 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 17 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Munkacsy - a wonderful colorist and composer - powerful draughtsman - dramatic - I and several American artists visited Munkacsy during the exhibition of his Christ Before Pilate and Crucifixion. He was very dignified almost austere - he with a certain air aristocratic apologized that he had so little work on hand." Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. Photocopy in folder; original stored in MS Oversize Box A. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 18 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 19 |
Scope and Content Note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Marguril." Photograph by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 20 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Remarkably gifted in style and original technique." Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 21 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 22 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 22b |
Scope and Content Note
Previously identified as Elizabeth Wentworth Roberts (1871-1927). Photograph by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 23 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 24 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Rolshoven talented and returned to US where he rather deliquesced into a semi-diligent attitude and died unappreciated." Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 25 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Roybets cavalier splendid in color and solid in facture well composed - a master of his time." Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 26 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 27 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 28 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 29 |
Scope and Content Note
Photograph probably by Edmond Bénard. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 30 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 31 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "Truesdell - whose country manners belied his real talent. His affluent brother [?] pushed him." Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 32 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 33 |
Scope and Contents note
Frank W. Stokes annotation: "A gentleman in every way. An erudite sincere and accomplished artist - enjoyed his quiet dignified generous spirit. When I last met him in Paris he regretted he had not been in America." Photograph possibly by Édouard Fiorillo. Photocopy in folder; original stored in MS Oversize Box A. |
circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 34 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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| 2 | 35 |
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circa 1885-1890 | |
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