Alfred-Nicolas Normand (1 June 1822,

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

– 2 March 1909, Paris) was a French architect and photographer.

Biography

His father, Louis-Eléonor Normand (1780-1862), was also an architect and provided some of his first lessons. In 1842, he entered the

École des Beaux-Arts École des Beaux-Arts (; ) refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The term is associated with the Beaux-Arts style in architecture and city planning that thrived in France and other countries during the late nineteenth centur ...

, where his primary instructor was . He won the

Prix de Rome The Prix de Rome () or Grand Prix de Rome was a French scholarship for arts students, initially for painters and sculptors, that was established in 1663 during the reign of Louis XIV of France. Winners were awarded a bursary that allowed them t ...

in 1846, with his design for a natural history museum, and lived at the

Villa Medici The Villa Medici () is a Mannerist villa and an architectural complex with a garden contiguous with the larger Borghese gardens, on the Pincian Hill next to Trinità dei Monti in Rome, Italy. The Villa Medici, founded by Ferdinando I de' Med ...

from 1847 to 1851. Normand-Pompeienne

Upon returning to France, he developed an interest in photography.

Maxime Du Camp Maxime Du Camp (8 February 1822 – 9 February 1894) was a French writer and photographer. Biography Born in Paris, Du Camp was the son of a successful surgeon. After finishing college, he indulged in his strong desire for travel, thanks to ...

, who had recently returned from a trip to the Middle East, encouraged his efforts and offered professional advice. He went back to the Mediterranean, and stayed until 1852, producing a series of over 130

calotype Calotype or talbotype is an early photographic process introduced in 1841 by William Henry Fox Talbot, using paper coated with silver iodide. Paper texture effects in calotype photography limit the ability of this early process to record low ...

s in Rome, Pompeii, Athens and Istanbul. In 1855, after a successful showing at the

Exposition Universelle Exposition (also the French for exhibition) may refer to: *Universal exposition or World's Fair *Expository writing **Exposition (narrative) *Exposition (music) *Trade fair * ''Exposition'' (album), the debut album by the band Wax on Radio *Exposi ...

, he decided to devote himself to architecture, rather than photography, although it would continue to be a hobby. In 1853, he was named an inspector of works and a deputy to

Victor Baltard Victor Baltard (9 June 180513 January 1874) was a French architect famed for work in Paris including designing Les Halles market and the Saint-Augustin church. Life Victor was born in Paris, son of architect Louis-Pierre Baltard and attended L ...

, the official Architect of the City of Paris. His individual career was launched in 1856, when he was one of several architects chosen by Prince Napoléon-Jérôme to design a palace in Neo-Grecian style that would come to be known as the Maison Pompéienne. When his work there was completed, in 1860, he was named a Knight in the Legion of Honor. It was demolished in 1891, due to years of neglect after the establishment of the Third Republic. He was named Inspector General for prison buildings in 1861, and built the Centre pénitentiaire de Rennes, a women's prison, between 1867 and 1876. In response to a law passed in 1875, requiring individual confinement, he and his fellow architect,

Joseph Auguste Émile Vaudremer Joseph Auguste Émile Vaudremer (6 February 1829 – 7 February 1914) was a French architect. He won the prix de Rome and designed several public buildings in France, particularly in Paris, four of which have been designated ''monuments historiqu ...

, drew up a plan for cells organized around a central courtyard; a plan which still plays a major role in prison design.Fabienne Doulat, "L’architecture carcérale, composante majeure de la réflexion sur l’enfermement pénal au XIXe siècle", In: ''Drac Rhône-Alpes, la DISP Rhône-Alpes/Auvergne, l’Arald'', 2008, pgs.26-35
Online
In the late 1870s, he also did reconstructive work on the

Arc de Triomphe The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (, , ; ) is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l'Étoile—the ''étoile'' ...

and the column at the

Place Vendôme The Place Vendôme (), earlier known as Place Louis-le-Grand, and also as Place Internationale, is a square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France, located to the north of the Tuileries Gardens and east of the Église de la Madeleine. It ...

. From 1882 to 1887, he added a swimming pool and classrooms to the lycée Michelet in

Vanves Vanves () is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe and the tenth in France History On 1 January 1860, the city of Paris ...

. After that, he indulged his interest in photography by taking an extended trip throughout France, Italy, Greece, North Africa, Scandinavia and Russia, making a photographic record of

vernacular A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...

structures, as well as monuments. Rennes prison des femmes

He was elected to the

Académie des Beaux-Arts An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...

in 1890, taking Seat #6 for architecture. From 1898 to 1900, he was President of the Société Centrale des Architectes. He also served as vice-president of the

Société Française de Photographie The Société française de photographie (SFP) is an association, founded on 15 November 1854, devoted to the history of photography. It has a large collection of photographs and old cameras. Among the founding members were Olympe Aguado, Hippo ...

. He had three sons; (1858-1934), an art historian, Paul (1861-1945), an architect, and Robert (1873-1929), a military engineer, with the rank of General, who participated in constructing the

Maginot Line The Maginot Line (french: Ligne Maginot, ), named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, is a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany and force the ...

References

External links

Documents, references, and a biography
@ AGORHA, Institut national d'histoire de l'art {{DEFAULTSORT:Normand, Alfred-Nicolas 1822 births 1909 deaths Prix de Rome winners Recipients of the Legion of Honour Members of the Académie des beaux-arts Architects from Paris

Biography

References

Further reading

External links