Picture of the day

Philippe Chaperon (1823–1906) was a French painter and scenic designer, particularly known for his work at the Paris Opera. He produced stage designs for the premieres of numerous 19th-century operas, including Verdi's Don Carlos and Aida, Massenet's Le Cid, Saint-Saëns's Henry VIII, part two of Berlioz's Les Troyens, and the first performances in France of Verdi's Otello and Rigoletto and Wagner's Tannhäuser. His painting style was influenced by his architecture studies, such as his debut work exhibited at the Paris Salon, Ruines d'un Temple dans l'Inde. This photographic portrait of Chaperon, taken around 1900, was produced by the studio (a.k.a. atelier) of the French photographer Nadar.Photograph credit: Atelier Nadar; restored by Adam Cuerden