Alfred-Nicolas Normand

Alfred-Nicolas Normand (1 June 1822, Paris – 2 March 1909, Paris) was a French architect and photographer.

Born — 1822 06 1

Birthplace — Paris, France

Died — 1909 03 2

Place of death — Paris, France

Known for — Architecture

1780

1862

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

1842

In 1842, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts, where his primary instructor was Alphonse-Françoise Marie Jaÿ.

1846

1847

1851

He won the Prix de Rome in 1846, with his design for a natural history museum, and lived at the Villa Medici from 1847 to 1851.

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

Maxime Du Camp, who had recently returned from a trip to the Middle East, encouraged his efforts and offered professional advice.

1852

130

He went back to the Mediterranean, and stayed until 1852, producing a series of over 130 calotypes in Rome, Pompeii, Athens and Istanbul.

1855

In 1855, after a successful showing at the Exposition Universelle, he decided to devote himself to architecture, rather than photography, although it would continue to be a hobby.

1853

In 1853, he was named an inspector of works and a deputy to Victor Baltard, the official Architect of the City of Paris.

1856

Prince

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.

1860

When his work there was completed, in 1860, he was named a Knight in the Legion of Honor.

1891

It was demolished in 1891, due to years of neglect after the establishment of the Third Republic.

1861

1867

1876

General

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.

1875

In response to a law passed in 1875, requiring individual confinement, he and his fellow architect, Joseph Auguste Émile Vaudremer, drew up a plan for cells organized around a central courtyard; a plan which still plays a major role in prison design.

In the late 1870s, he also did reconstructive work on the Arc de Triomphe and the column at the Place Vendôme.

1882

1887

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

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 structures, as well as monuments.

1890

He was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1890, taking Seat #6 for architecture.

1898

1900

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.

1858

1934

1945

1873

1929

historian

art historian

engineer

He had three sons; Charles Normand (historian) (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.