Printed: 2024-12-21
Maes, Joseph
Identity
Category
Person (Male)
Alternative name or descriptor
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Status
- Professional / Connected
Details
Life dates
Ghent, 1838 - Antwerp - Berchem, 1908
Activity
1858 * - 1862 / Bruxelles, Rue des Fripiers, 26
Successor: Maes [Joseph] & Michaux
Melchior Florimond Joseph, ° 10.6.1838; + 4.8.1908. First attempts at photography in 1852. He went on to become Van Monckhoven’s collaborator for several years. Arrived at this address on 22.11.1858. Throughout his career Maes specialised in making photographs for publication in illustrated books and periodicals. This specialisation began fairly early on, as his first two works of this type date from 1860: "Histoire populaire de la Belgique" by H. Hymans, illustrated with 11 albumen prints by Maes, and "Exposition Générale des Beaux-Arts à Bruxelles. Le Salon de 1860" by M. Sulzberger, illustrated with 4 prints by Maes, reproductions of paintings.
In 1861 Maes asked permission from the "Commission d'Assistance Publique" to photograph Memling’s masterpieces at the "Hôpital Saint-Jean". "Who does not recall the legitimate success gained by the Album that Mr Maes published of the last fine arts exhibition in Brussels?" (Journal de Bruxelles, 5.3.1862). In March 1862 Maes formed a partnership with a certain Michaux (see Maes [Joseph] & Michaux).
1863 * - 1866 / Bruxelles, Rue Fossé aux Loups, 36 / Place de la Monnaie
Predecessor: Maes [Joseph] & Michaux Successor: Mathieu #
From 14.10.1863 he lived at this address, where he had been a business partner of Michaux (see Maes & Michaux), but remained domiciled in Antwerp. Brief collaboration with the photolithographic printers Simonau & Toovey in c. 1864, Maes' introduction to photomechanical printing.
1866 * - 1873 Anvers, Rue des Aveugles, 1 (Place du Musée)
Predecessor: Blanche Auguste
At this address from 15.4.1866. First photomechanical printing installations in 1870. He visited Joseph Albert’s studio in Munich in 1870 to learn the collotype, a new printing process using printer’s ink, but he refused to acquire a licence to operate the Albert process. However, he benefited from his visit by reconstituting the process. In 1871 he bought a lithographic press in Germany and adapted it to the collotype. It was the first steam-powered collotype press imported into Belgium. Capacity up to 2000 prints per day by 1882.
1873 Anvers, Rue Van Schoonbeke (private ?)
Collotypes, carbon prints.
1874 * - 1881 Anvers, Avenue (or Boulevard) de l'Industrie, 24
"Near the new Palace of Justice". Portrait studio at this address. In the directory, "Maes M.F." (= Melchior Florimond). From 1878 until 1880, publisher and editor-in-chief of the "Revue artistique", illustrated with his own collotypes. Founder member of the ABP.
1875 * - 1882 / Anvers, Rempart Sainte-Catherine, 23
Successor: Raynaud Georges
Opened in December 1875. "There is nobody, in Belgium or abroad, who has not seen his honorable name at the bottom of a photographic reproduction" (Revue artistique, 1882, p. 12). There is circumstantial evidence that Maes acquired and exploited the Woodburytype press previously owned by Simonau & Toovey in 1876-1877.
1880 Anvers, Rue de la Duchesse (private)
In the directory, "Maes M.F.".
1884 * - 1899 Anvers, Rue Gramaye, 10
Successor: Dero Georges or Frères<92-94>
Opened in April 1884. Administration of the "Chronique des Beaux-Arts", periodical published by Maes from 1884 until 1886. Printing works for artistic and industrial collotype. Photozincography. Collotypes of the disaster of Antwerp on 6.9.1889 (explosion of a cartridge factory). An album containing 18 collotypes printed by Maes was published under the auspices of the ABP for the benefit of the victims. "In the press room are three large power presses of elaborate construction. Photographing in a variety of branches is here carried out, but, so far as we saw, photo-collotype in half tone seemed to have the predominance" (British Journal of Photography, 26.9.1890, p. 613).
President of the ABP from 1889 until 1895. Vice-president from 1895 until 1898. Voted president of the Antwerp section of the ABP on 6.12.1886, he was still president in 1904.
1896 - 1908 + Anvers, Rue Rembrandt, 33(3) or 25<01-08> (ABP lists)
Apparently a private address although both street numbers are listed in the "photographers" section of the Monod directory, 1907-1908. Maes was listed at this address as a person of private means in the membership list of the league "Antwerpen vooruit". Foreign member of the "Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Amateur-Photographie", Hamburg in 1896. Address also listed as the headquarters of the "Union Internationale de Photographie", of which Maes was the president.
Agent of the Lumière company during the commercialisation of the "cinématographe" in 1896. Editor of the bi-monthly "Journal de photographie" from October 1902 until September 1905. In 1905 he delivered a Kaiserpanorama to the "Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde" (Zoological Garden of Antwerp). He probably made it from prefabicated parts. This automatic stereoscope was presented at the Universal Exhibition in Liège in 1905. Member of the photographic section of the "Cercle artistique, littéraire et scientifique d'Anvers" in 1908. Domiciled at Avenue Cogels, 86 at his time of death.
1900 Anvers, Rue Jacobs, 38
A key figure in 19th century Belgian photography, Maes participated, in his numerous activities as photographer, publisher, experimenter with new processes, and commentator, in all major technical and aesthetic developments for over half a century.
Successor: Maes [Joseph] & Michaux
Melchior Florimond Joseph, ° 10.6.1838; + 4.8.1908. First attempts at photography in 1852. He went on to become Van Monckhoven’s collaborator for several years. Arrived at this address on 22.11.1858. Throughout his career Maes specialised in making photographs for publication in illustrated books and periodicals. This specialisation began fairly early on, as his first two works of this type date from 1860: "Histoire populaire de la Belgique" by H. Hymans, illustrated with 11 albumen prints by Maes, and "Exposition Générale des Beaux-Arts à Bruxelles. Le Salon de 1860" by M. Sulzberger, illustrated with 4 prints by Maes, reproductions of paintings.
In 1861 Maes asked permission from the "Commission d'Assistance Publique" to photograph Memling’s masterpieces at the "Hôpital Saint-Jean". "Who does not recall the legitimate success gained by the Album that Mr Maes published of the last fine arts exhibition in Brussels?" (Journal de Bruxelles, 5.3.1862). In March 1862 Maes formed a partnership with a certain Michaux (see Maes [Joseph] & Michaux).
1863 * - 1866 / Bruxelles, Rue Fossé aux Loups, 36 / Place de la Monnaie
Predecessor: Maes [Joseph] & Michaux Successor: Mathieu #
From 14.10.1863 he lived at this address, where he had been a business partner of Michaux (see Maes & Michaux), but remained domiciled in Antwerp. Brief collaboration with the photolithographic printers Simonau & Toovey in c. 1864, Maes' introduction to photomechanical printing.
1866 * - 1873 Anvers, Rue des Aveugles, 1 (Place du Musée)
Predecessor: Blanche Auguste
At this address from 15.4.1866. First photomechanical printing installations in 1870. He visited Joseph Albert’s studio in Munich in 1870 to learn the collotype, a new printing process using printer’s ink, but he refused to acquire a licence to operate the Albert process. However, he benefited from his visit by reconstituting the process. In 1871 he bought a lithographic press in Germany and adapted it to the collotype. It was the first steam-powered collotype press imported into Belgium. Capacity up to 2000 prints per day by 1882.
1873 Anvers, Rue Van Schoonbeke (private ?)
Collotypes, carbon prints.
1874 * - 1881 Anvers, Avenue (or Boulevard) de l'Industrie, 24
"Near the new Palace of Justice". Portrait studio at this address. In the directory, "Maes M.F." (= Melchior Florimond). From 1878 until 1880, publisher and editor-in-chief of the "Revue artistique", illustrated with his own collotypes. Founder member of the ABP.
1875 * - 1882 / Anvers, Rempart Sainte-Catherine, 23
Successor: Raynaud Georges
Opened in December 1875. "There is nobody, in Belgium or abroad, who has not seen his honorable name at the bottom of a photographic reproduction" (Revue artistique, 1882, p. 12). There is circumstantial evidence that Maes acquired and exploited the Woodburytype press previously owned by Simonau & Toovey in 1876-1877.
1880 Anvers, Rue de la Duchesse (private)
In the directory, "Maes M.F.".
1884 * - 1899 Anvers, Rue Gramaye, 10
Successor: Dero Georges or Frères<92-94>
Opened in April 1884. Administration of the "Chronique des Beaux-Arts", periodical published by Maes from 1884 until 1886. Printing works for artistic and industrial collotype. Photozincography. Collotypes of the disaster of Antwerp on 6.9.1889 (explosion of a cartridge factory). An album containing 18 collotypes printed by Maes was published under the auspices of the ABP for the benefit of the victims. "In the press room are three large power presses of elaborate construction. Photographing in a variety of branches is here carried out, but, so far as we saw, photo-collotype in half tone seemed to have the predominance" (British Journal of Photography, 26.9.1890, p. 613).
President of the ABP from 1889 until 1895. Vice-president from 1895 until 1898. Voted president of the Antwerp section of the ABP on 6.12.1886, he was still president in 1904.
1896 - 1908 + Anvers, Rue Rembrandt, 33(3) or 25<01-08> (ABP lists)
Apparently a private address although both street numbers are listed in the "photographers" section of the Monod directory, 1907-1908. Maes was listed at this address as a person of private means in the membership list of the league "Antwerpen vooruit". Foreign member of the "Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Amateur-Photographie", Hamburg in 1896. Address also listed as the headquarters of the "Union Internationale de Photographie", of which Maes was the president.
Agent of the Lumière company during the commercialisation of the "cinématographe" in 1896. Editor of the bi-monthly "Journal de photographie" from October 1902 until September 1905. In 1905 he delivered a Kaiserpanorama to the "Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde" (Zoological Garden of Antwerp). He probably made it from prefabicated parts. This automatic stereoscope was presented at the Universal Exhibition in Liège in 1905. Member of the photographic section of the "Cercle artistique, littéraire et scientifique d'Anvers" in 1908. Domiciled at Avenue Cogels, 86 at his time of death.
1900 Anvers, Rue Jacobs, 38
A key figure in 19th century Belgian photography, Maes participated, in his numerous activities as photographer, publisher, experimenter with new processes, and commentator, in all major technical and aesthetic developments for over half a century.
Locations
1858 * - 1862 / Bruxelles, Rue des Fripiers, 26
1863 * - 1866 / Bruxelles, Rue Fossé aux Loups, 36 / Place de la Monnaie
1866 * - 1873 Anvers, Rue des Aveugles, 1 (Place du Musée)
1873 Anvers, Rue Van Schoonbeke (private ?)
1874 * - 1881 Anvers, Avenue (or Boulevard) de l'Industrie, 24
1875 * - 1882 / Anvers, Rempart Sainte-Catherine, 23
1880 Anvers, Rue de la Duchesse (private)
1884 * - 1899 Anvers, Rue Gramaye, 10
1896 - 1908 + Anvers, Rue Rembrandt, 33(3) or 25<01-08> (ABP lists)
1900 Anvers, Rue Jacobs, 38
1863 * - 1866 / Bruxelles, Rue Fossé aux Loups, 36 / Place de la Monnaie
1866 * - 1873 Anvers, Rue des Aveugles, 1 (Place du Musée)
1873 Anvers, Rue Van Schoonbeke (private ?)
1874 * - 1881 Anvers, Avenue (or Boulevard) de l'Industrie, 24
1875 * - 1882 / Anvers, Rempart Sainte-Catherine, 23
1880 Anvers, Rue de la Duchesse (private)
1884 * - 1899 Anvers, Rue Gramaye, 10
1896 - 1908 + Anvers, Rue Rembrandt, 33(3) or 25<01-08> (ABP lists)
1900 Anvers, Rue Jacobs, 38
Exhibitions
Brussels, 1861 (medal); London, 1862; Paris, 1867 (honorable mention); London, 1871; Vienna, 1873; Brussels, 1874; Paris, 1874; Brussels, 1875; Brussels, 1880; Ghent, 1882; Brussels, 1883 (Antwerp, no street; silver medal); Antwerp, 1885; Antwerp, 1888 (collotypes and Woodburytypes); Brussels, 1888; Antwerp, 1889; Paris, 1889 (gold medal); Antwerp, 1890 (album of the Antwerp disaster); Antwerp, 1891; Brussels, 1891; Antwerp, 1893 ABP (studies of stormy skies); Antwerp, 1894 (jury); Ghent, 1895; Brussels, 1896; Hamburg, 1896; Louvain, 1896; Brussels, 1898; Ghent, 1899; Antwerp, 1900 ABP; Mons, 1901; Brussels, 1902; Antwerp, 1903 ABP (cloud studies); Ghent, 1903; Ghent ABP, 1903; Antwerp, 1904 ABP; Louvain, 1904; Antwerp, 1905 ABP (marines and landscapes in Luxembourg).
Genres / subject matter
Techniques
Bibliography/Webography
Context
Affiliations
Affiliated entity
Association belge de Photographie
Type of affiliation
Member of
Dates of affiliation
1882 - 1908
Description of relationship
Management
Record source
DIRECTORY_1997#2881
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation/revision
SFJ revised 30.7.2017, 29.12.2017, 1.5.2018, 31.5.2018 & 27.2.2019; SFJ revised 20.1.2021, 31.5.2021, 24.1.2022 & 7.3.2023 based on information supplied by M. Demaeght; SFJ revised 17.6.2023 & 12.10.2023 based on information supplied by M. Demaeght; SFJ revised 23.1.2024, 20.7.2024 & 15.8.2024 based on information supplied by M. Demaeght; MD revised 8.9.2020, 3.12.2020, 18.10.2022, 13.11.2023, 17.4.2024 & 16.10.2024