N. D.-1842      106 Royal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.[1]

1842                44 Royal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.¹

N. D.  The New York Historical Society Dictionary Of Artist In American 1564-1860.  1957, (New Haven, Connecticut, London, England.)  P. 400.

Lion, Jules.  Portrait and miniature painter.  Lithographer, and first daguerreotypist artist of New Orleans.  He was a native of France, born about 1816, who can to New Orleans as early as 1837 and worked there till 1865.  According to the 1851 directory he was a “free man of color.”  He painted a portrait of John James Audubon.

N. D.  Louisiana State Museum.  https://louisianastatemuseum.org/collections-jules-lion

Jules Lion

French, 1810–1866

Lion exhibited at the Salon in Paris between 1831 and 1836. He came to New Orleans, where he was considered a “Free Man of Color,” in late 1836 or early 1837. In 1839, Lion returned to Paris, where he learned the patented daguerreotype process from one of Jacques Louis Mandé Daguerre’s partners. On March 14, 1840, the New Orleans Bee announced a display of Lion’s daguerreotypes at the St. Charles Museum—the first documented exhibition of photographs in Louisiana.

Lion was active as a photographer until about 1843. His main focus, however, was lithographed portraits of prominent Louisianans created between 1837 and 1847. In 1860, he made an unsuccessful attempt to publish about 200 of his portraits in a book entitled Notabilités de la Louisiane. Lion also taught art with Dominique Canova (1800–1868) at the Louisiana College. Near the end of his life, he lithographed sheet music covers with Confederate themes.

1840 March 18.  The Daily Picayune.  (New Orleans, Louisiana.)  March 18, 1840, Vol. IV, No. 46, P. 2.

Daguerreotype.  The public is respectfully informed that the second exhibition of this highly interesting machine will take place on Thursday, the 19^th inst., at the museum, opposite St. Charles Hotel, at 12 o’clock. M.

Tickets, $1.

N. B.  The ticket at the same time entitles the holder to draw for one of those splendid views made by the Daguerreotype—one view at every exhibition being invariably disposed of in this way by lottery.  J. Lion.

Advertisement ran on March 18 & 19, 1840.

1840 March 20.  The Daily Picayune.  (New Orleans, Louisiana.)  March 20, 1840, Vol. IV, No. 48, P. 2.

The Daguerreotype.—Clapp’s Church.—We yesterday witnessed the complete process of taking a representation of the Rev. Dr. Clapp’s church, by the new system invented by Daguerre.  Mr./ Lion, who performed the scientific operation, first dried very carefully with a solution of nitric acid a finely polished sheet of silver, plated on copper.  He than exposed the prepared surface to the action of vapor of iodine, after which the plate was fixed securely in the camera obscura, which was directed from the window of the Museum so as to return a reflection of the sacred edifice on the corner.  In about twenty minutes the plate was taken from the camera obscura again, and placed in a box at the bottom of which was a quantity of mercury; this was heated by a spirit lamp until the necessary temperature was obtained, and then the metallic sheet was drawn forth stamped with a most exquisite likeness in miniature of the church.

The operation is one of exceeding interest, and as we under stand Mr. Lion intends to take the St. Charles Exchange and other pictures, from the Museum, we would sincerely recommend all lovers of science to attend.  Mr. Lion is a young French gentleman, after saying which we need not add that he is pleasing, courteous and polite.

1840 March 22.  The Daily Picayune.  (New Orleans, Louisiana.)  March 22, 1840, Vol. IV, No. 50, P. 2.

Mr. Lion placed a bottle of the Lafayette mixture and a bottle of the Stilman preparation side by side, with a view of taking a Daguerreotype drawing of both; but lo! The Lafyette affair could not shine in the presence of 96.  The consequence was, that while he took off an excellent engraving of the latter, he could not transfer the former to his plate, “no how he could fix it.”—Let us not here another word from the Lafayette Gazette on the subject after this.  Be stil-man, or be Stilman’s man, or be silent.  Take either horn—a gin toddy or a bottle of the highly concentrated.

1840 March 28.  The Daily Picayune.  (New Orleans, Louisiana.)  March 28, 1840, Vol. IV, No. 55, P. 3.

The Daguerreotype.  Mr. Lion respectfully announces to the public that he will, on Sunday, the 29th inst., in the Orleans ball room, repeat the interesting operation of taking a Daguerreotype likeness of the old Cathedral.  The picture will be taken precisely at noonday.

1840 March 29.  The Daily Picayune.  (New Orleans, Louisiana.)  March 29, 1840, Vol. IV, No. 56, P. 2.

Daguerreotype.—At noon to-day, from the Orleans ball room, Mr. Lion will take a Daguerreotype picture of the old Cathedral.  The operation is one of great novelty and interest.

1840 April 4.  Gazette De Baton Rouge.  (Baton-Rouge, Louisiana.)  April 4, 1840, Vol. XXII, No. 8, P. 1.

Unreadable.

1840 March 29.  The Daily Picayune.  (New Orleans, Louisiana.)  March 29, 1840, Vol. IV, No. 56, P. 2.

1840 July 28.  The Daily Picayune.  (New Orleans, Louisiana.)  July 28, 1840, Vol. IV, No. 158, P. 3.

Daguerreotype.  The undersigned has the honor to inform the scribers to this rare apparatus that on Sunday, the 2d of August, public experiment will be made by Mr. Lion, at the subscriber’s residence, and that the drawing remitting therefrom shall be framed and delivered with the Daguerreotype and its accessories to the fortunate winner.

A few numbers remain unsold.  Theodore, Hair Dresser, Chartres st., Opposite the Orleans Hotel.

Advertisement ran from July 28 to August 2, 1840.

1842 June 15.  The Times-Picayune.  (New Orleans, Louisiana.)  June 15, 1842, Vol. VI, No. 122, P. 2.

Views of New Orleans.—J. Lion, the skilful artist in lithograph so well known in this city, has commenced a series of views of the public buildings, grounds, and picturesque places about the city and state.  He performed a like work by the daguerreotype not long since.  The first view, now complete, is of the old cathedral, and it is a most minute and finished performance.  There is not an object discernible from the point of sight of the artist but is transferred with life-like fidelity to the picture.  It is elegantly printed upon a handsome sheet by Manouvrier & Chavin.

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[1] Craig’s Daguerreian Registry.