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Blanc et Demilly is the name of the photography studio in Lyon run by Théodore (Théo) Blanc (1891–1985) and Antoine (Tony) Demilly (1892–1964), from 1924 to 1963. Blanc and Demilly inherited the studio from their father-in-law Édouard Bron upon his retirement and after both completing years of apprenticeship alongside him. Blanc and Demilly renamed and rebranded the firm, specializing in family photographs and portraits of Lyon’s political, literary, artistic, and medical celebrities. Expanding their studio practice, in 1935 they opened the gallery Blanc et Demilly, where they exhibited their artistic work and the pictures of talented amateurs. Using the gallery to cultivate the photographic community of Lyon, they sold Rolleiflex and Leica cameras (which they introduced in Lyon in the late 1920s), organized workshops and competitions, and published a monthly Bulletin d’informations photographiques. Blanc et Demilly was commissioned to produce photographic illustrations for publications about Lyon. They participated in exhibitions throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, often presenting their pictures under their own names, but with their joint signature. They closed the gallery in 1951, and, in 1963, with the arrival of new professionals, they faced a decrease of demand. They sold the studio, the signature, and almost all of their negatives to René Comte, who ultimately closed the studio three years later.
—Mitra Abbaspour
May 7, 1891 |
Théo Blanc born
At location: Blanc et Demilly
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Lyon |
March 24, 1892 |
Antoine Demilly born
At location: Blanc et Demilly
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Mâcon |
Early 1900s |
Théo Blanc takes photographs in his adolescence; uses a 9 x 12 cm plate camera
At location: Blanc et Demilly
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Lyon |
1910 |
Antoine Demilly becomes an apprentice at Studio Bron, run by portrait photographer Edouard Bron
At location: Blanc et Demilly
|
Lyon |
1918 |
Théo Blanc marries Marcelle Bron, daughter of Edouard Bron
At location: Blanc et Demilly
|
Lyon |
1920 |
Antoine Demilly marries Adrienne Bron, daughter of Edouard Bron
At location: Blanc et Demilly
|
Lyon |
1924–62 |
Edouard Bron retires and transfers ownership of his studio to his sons-in-law Théo Blanc and Antoine Demilly, who rename it Studio Blanc et Demilly
They move beyond traditional portraiture and begin using different cameras, including Rolleiflex and Leica.
At location: Blanc et Demilly
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Lyon |
1933 |
Centenaire de la mort de Niépce at the Musée Nicéphore Niépce
Participant: Blanc et Demilly
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Chalon-sur-Saône |
1933–35 |
Exhibits in the fitth, sixth, and seventh editions of the Exposition internationale de telegraphie sans fil, phono, photo et cine at the Palais de la Foire
Participant: Blanc et Demilly
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Lyon |
1933–36 |
Publication of Aspects of Lyon, 12 booklets with heliogravure photographs of Lyon
Contributor: Blanc et Demilly
|
Lyon |
1935–51 |
Blanc and Demilly establish a gallery, where they exhibit their own work and the work of amateur photographers and sell photographic equipment
At location: Blanc et Demilly
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Lyon |
August 1936 |
Retrospective at Galerie d'Art Braun et Cie
|
Paris |
1938–39 |
Publishes the monthly journal Bulletin d'informations photographiques until the war raises the price of paper and they are forced to stop printing the journal
At location: Blanc et Demilly
|
Lyon |
1942 |
Charmes de Lyon is published, with 127 photographs by Studio Blanc et Demilly
Contributor: Blanc et Demilly
|
Lyon |
July 10, 1964 |
Antoine Demilly dies
At location: Blanc et Demilly
|
Lyon |
February 3, 1985 |
Théo Blanc dies
At location: Blanc et Demilly
|
Lyon |