Printed: 2025-12-06
Brackelaire, Théophile
Identity
Category
Person (Male)
Alternative name or descriptor
- Photographie Artistique Instantanée (in Renaix)
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Status
- Professional / Connected
Details
Life dates
Renaix, 1837 - ?, 1921
Activity
1863 * - 1864 Renaix, Rue du Tremble
Théophile Marie Joseph, ° 29.3.1837. On the occasion of his wedding in Renaix on 14.8.1861, recorded as a tradesman there. "Studio founded in 1863". Advertising here in September 1863: "Artistic photography without retouching... Portraits on glass, canvas, paper, porcelain, steel etc." (La Renaisienne, 27.9.1863). Still advertising here in January 1864 (La Renaisienne, 17.1.1864). By the end of 1864 Brackelaire was advertising as a photographer in Renaix, without the mention of a street address. He intended to erect a glass studio and purchase the equipment necessary to create life-size portraits (La Renaisienne, 4.12.1864). Another studio address at Grand'Place, 4 cannot be confirmed at present.
1864 * Leuze
One advertisement from May 1864, suggested that Brackelaire moved his business to Leuze for a short period of time. "Mr Théophile Brackelaire, photographer, currently based in Leuze, informs that he will operate in Renaix for the duration of the fair" (La Renaisienne, 15.5.1864).
1865 - 1866 Renaix, Rue d'Ellezelles
"Due to cessation of business. Sale at invoice price of a quantity of old and good cigars at the home of Th. Brackelaire-Vandries, Photographer..." (La Renaisienne, 17.12.1865 & 28.1.1866).
1865 * - 1868 / Tournai, Enclos Saint-Martin, 3, 15 or 16/3
The first of three successive studios, marking Brackelaire’s uninterrupted 40 year career as a portrait photographer in Tournai. In advertisements, "next to the kiosk in the Park". Hired an artist to overpaint portraits on canvas in 1867.
1866 Tournai, Grand Place, 4
Not a studio but a display of Brackelaire's portraits on the premises of the stationer Lecomte - Bocquet (La Feuille de Tournai, 23.12.1866).
1868 * - 1887 / Tournai, Rue Roc Saint-Nicaise, 17
At this address from April 1868. On many CVs, "Firm Founded in 1865"; also "Roc" is omitted. Founder member of the ABP ("De Brackelaire"). Completed a commission to photograph antique tapestries that decorated the Cathedral sacristy in December 1876. Founder member of the "Cercle Artistique de Tournai", inaugurated on 28.5.1885. Brackelaire exhibited his photographs in the first two salons organised by the Cercle in 1885 and 1886.
1871 */ Renaix, Rue du Tremble (on the premises of Benjamin Brackelaire)
Brackelaire announced that he would be operating at his uncle's home for a few days, starting 9.7.1971.
1872 Ath, Grand'Place
"On Mr Desmet’s premises". Either Gustave Desmet, wine merchant at no. 14, or Edmond Desmet, cloth merchant at no. 16.
1878 ca Mouscron, Rue de la Station, 29
Branch studio.
1887 * - 1897 Tournai, Vieux Marché aux Vaches, 31<89> or 32<93-95>
= Place Sainte Marguerite, thereafter Place de Lille. Operated here from October 1887.
1898 - 1905 / Tournai, Place de Lille, 32
Successor: Carlier (stock of negatives, by 1905)
Also undertook collotype printing at this address. Brackelaire himself probably ceased operating by December 1904 when his "fine and spacious house suitable for business with a photographer's studio" was advertised to let (Le Courrier de l'Escaut, 18.12.1904). He sold off his old cameras and equipment in June 1905, including a Voirin collotype press (Le Courrier de l'Escaut, 22.6.1905). His final entry in the Mertens & Rozez directories was in 1905. Subsequently, "Veuve T. Brackelaire" was listed at this address in the photographers section of the Monod trade directory, 1907-1913. However, we have been unable to uncover any trace of photographic activity during this period.
Two sons were active as photographers in their father's studio. The elder son, Valentin Herman Théophile (° Renaix, 25.3.1862; + Tournai, 18.12.1896), also exhibited paintings and sculpture in the annual salons of the "Cercle Artistique de Tournai" in 1887 to 1889. On the occasion of his wedding in Brussels on 12.10.1904, Fernand Valentin Théophile Brackelaire (° Tournai, 16.5.1877), Théophile's younger son, was recorded as a photographer resident in Tournai.
Théophile Marie Joseph, ° 29.3.1837. On the occasion of his wedding in Renaix on 14.8.1861, recorded as a tradesman there. "Studio founded in 1863". Advertising here in September 1863: "Artistic photography without retouching... Portraits on glass, canvas, paper, porcelain, steel etc." (La Renaisienne, 27.9.1863). Still advertising here in January 1864 (La Renaisienne, 17.1.1864). By the end of 1864 Brackelaire was advertising as a photographer in Renaix, without the mention of a street address. He intended to erect a glass studio and purchase the equipment necessary to create life-size portraits (La Renaisienne, 4.12.1864). Another studio address at Grand'Place, 4 cannot be confirmed at present.
1864 * Leuze
One advertisement from May 1864, suggested that Brackelaire moved his business to Leuze for a short period of time. "Mr Théophile Brackelaire, photographer, currently based in Leuze, informs that he will operate in Renaix for the duration of the fair" (La Renaisienne, 15.5.1864).
1865 - 1866 Renaix, Rue d'Ellezelles
"Due to cessation of business. Sale at invoice price of a quantity of old and good cigars at the home of Th. Brackelaire-Vandries, Photographer..." (La Renaisienne, 17.12.1865 & 28.1.1866).
1865 * - 1868 / Tournai, Enclos Saint-Martin, 3, 15 or 16/3
The first of three successive studios, marking Brackelaire’s uninterrupted 40 year career as a portrait photographer in Tournai. In advertisements, "next to the kiosk in the Park". Hired an artist to overpaint portraits on canvas in 1867.
1866 Tournai, Grand Place, 4
Not a studio but a display of Brackelaire's portraits on the premises of the stationer Lecomte - Bocquet (La Feuille de Tournai, 23.12.1866).
1868 * - 1887 / Tournai, Rue Roc Saint-Nicaise, 17
At this address from April 1868. On many CVs, "Firm Founded in 1865"; also "Roc" is omitted. Founder member of the ABP ("De Brackelaire"). Completed a commission to photograph antique tapestries that decorated the Cathedral sacristy in December 1876. Founder member of the "Cercle Artistique de Tournai", inaugurated on 28.5.1885. Brackelaire exhibited his photographs in the first two salons organised by the Cercle in 1885 and 1886.
1871 */ Renaix, Rue du Tremble (on the premises of Benjamin Brackelaire)
Brackelaire announced that he would be operating at his uncle's home for a few days, starting 9.7.1971.
1872 Ath, Grand'Place
"On Mr Desmet’s premises". Either Gustave Desmet, wine merchant at no. 14, or Edmond Desmet, cloth merchant at no. 16.
1878 ca Mouscron, Rue de la Station, 29
Branch studio.
1887 * - 1897 Tournai, Vieux Marché aux Vaches, 31<89> or 32<93-95>
= Place Sainte Marguerite, thereafter Place de Lille. Operated here from October 1887.
1898 - 1905 / Tournai, Place de Lille, 32
Successor: Carlier (stock of negatives, by 1905)
Also undertook collotype printing at this address. Brackelaire himself probably ceased operating by December 1904 when his "fine and spacious house suitable for business with a photographer's studio" was advertised to let (Le Courrier de l'Escaut, 18.12.1904). He sold off his old cameras and equipment in June 1905, including a Voirin collotype press (Le Courrier de l'Escaut, 22.6.1905). His final entry in the Mertens & Rozez directories was in 1905. Subsequently, "Veuve T. Brackelaire" was listed at this address in the photographers section of the Monod trade directory, 1907-1913. However, we have been unable to uncover any trace of photographic activity during this period.
Two sons were active as photographers in their father's studio. The elder son, Valentin Herman Théophile (° Renaix, 25.3.1862; + Tournai, 18.12.1896), also exhibited paintings and sculpture in the annual salons of the "Cercle Artistique de Tournai" in 1887 to 1889. On the occasion of his wedding in Brussels on 12.10.1904, Fernand Valentin Théophile Brackelaire (° Tournai, 16.5.1877), Théophile's younger son, was recorded as a photographer resident in Tournai.
Locations
1863 * - 1864 Renaix, Rue du Tremble
1864 * Leuze
1865 - 1866 Renaix, Rue d'Ellezelles
1865 * - 1868 / Tournai, Enclos Saint-Martin, 3, 15 or 16/3
1866 Tournai, Grand Place, 4
1868 * - 1887 / Tournai, Rue Roc Saint-Nicaise, 17
1871 */ Renaix, Rue du Tremble (on the premises of Benjamin Brackelaire)
1872 Ath, Grand'Place
1878 ca Mouscron, Rue de la Station, 29
1887 * - 1897 Tournai, Vieux Marché aux Vaches, 31<89> or 32<93-95>
1898 - 1905 / Tournai, Place de Lille, 32
1864 * Leuze
1865 - 1866 Renaix, Rue d'Ellezelles
1865 * - 1868 / Tournai, Enclos Saint-Martin, 3, 15 or 16/3
1866 Tournai, Grand Place, 4
1868 * - 1887 / Tournai, Rue Roc Saint-Nicaise, 17
1871 */ Renaix, Rue du Tremble (on the premises of Benjamin Brackelaire)
1872 Ath, Grand'Place
1878 ca Mouscron, Rue de la Station, 29
1887 * - 1897 Tournai, Vieux Marché aux Vaches, 31<89> or 32<93-95>
1898 - 1905 / Tournai, Place de Lille, 32
Exhibitions
Ghent, 1880; Tournai, 1896.
Genres / subject matter
Techniques
Bibliography/Webography
RIGAUT, Eric. Photographes tournaisiens du 19e siècle, "Théophile Brackelaire", accessed 16.5.2020 at:
http://cdvtournai.be/Brackelaire.htm
http://cdvtournai.be/Brackelaire.htm
Context
Affiliations
Affiliated entity
Association belge de Photographie
Type of affiliation
Member of
Dates of affiliation
1874 - 1885
Description of relationship
Management
Record source
DIRECTORY_1997#415
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation/revision
SFJ revised 27.6.2017, 8.7.2017, 29.4.2018, 26.5.2018 & 16.11.2018; SFJ revised 27.10.2019 based on information supplied by M. Demaeght; SFJ revised 1.5.2020 & 15.5.2020; SFJ revised 26.7.2021 & 12.8.2023; SFJ revised 8.3.2024 based on information published by Bernard Desmaele & Éric Rigaut; MD revised 28.8.2020, 24.2.2022 & 27.5.2025