Portrait of Oscar Wilde in a velvet vest and jacket and tall boots leaning against an ornate wall by Napoleon Sarony.

Napoleon Sarony (1821–1896), photographer
Portrait of Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
Albumen print on card, 1882
Oscar Wilde Collection of Papers, Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature

Portrait of Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)

Wilde traveled to the United States for a lecture tour in 1882, famously announcing to a customs official upon his arrival: “I have nothing to declare but my genius.” Napoleon Sarony, the foremost celebrity photographer of the time, shot publicity images of Wilde in at least 27 poses, including this one, printed as a large-format panel card. This famous portrait became one of the defining images of Wilde’s “aesthetic” persona. Sarony’s photographs were widely pirated for use on trade cards, and his successful lawsuit established the legal basis for American photographic copyright.

: Oscar Wilde Collection of Papers, Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of Eng…

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