Prince Napoléon-Jérôme Bonaparte and wife Maria Clotilde 1860 Disderi CDV


Prince Napoléon-Jérôme Bonaparte was the second son of Jérôme, King of Westphalia. He was the youngest brother of Napoleon I. He bore the title of "Prince Napoléon", which was given to him by his cousin Emperor Napoleon III in 1852.

In Turin on January 30, 1859, Maria Clotide of Savoy married Prince Napoléon-Jérôme Bonaparte. They had three children.


The photographer: André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri — creator of the CDV - carte de visite

Born in France in 1819, Disderi was responsible for the introduction and popularisation of the carte-de-visite sized photograph in France. Cartes-de-visite were smaller, cheaper portrait photographs which were, therefore, more readily available for public consumption. The images were often mounted on card and exchanged with friends as 'calling cards'. In 1854, Disderi opened the biggest and grandest portrait studio in Paris.