Person (Male)

• Photographie Instantanée (in Rue Van Artevelde); Photographie Moderne (in Rue Jules Van Praet)

• Professional / Connected

Bouillon, 1836 - Brussels, 1902

1881 * - 1882 / Bruxelles, Place Sainte-Gudule, 14
Predecessor: Dechamps Pierre-Edouard & Cie  Successor: Pepermans Josse
Joseph Charles, ° 22.8.1836; + 16.1.1902. Administrator-manager in Edmond Fierlants' firm in 1862. He then left for Paris, where he was registered in 1865 as "Joseph Charles, Thiel aîné (Thiel Frères), Aux Armes belges, Photographie nouvelle", Rue de la Victoire, 46. Also operated as "Thiel - Javel", Boulevard des Batignolles, 10, in 1867-1868; Rue de la Paix - Boulevard des Batignolles, 36, in 1869; Rue de la Condamine, 34, in 1870 and "Thiel Aîné & Cie", Rue de la Condamine, 75-77, in 1874, then 77 in 1876. Declared bankrupt on 9.2.1872 when operating as Thiel - Javel, Rue de la Condamine, 36, the judgment was lifted on 3.2.1880 when Thiel was trading as a printer-lithographer and photographer at Rue de la Condamine, 36 & 77.
Member of the "Société française de photographie" from 5.2.1875, where on two occasions he displayed specimens of photomechanical printing. Member of the ABP from 13.4.1875; not an ABP member from 1879 to 1881. Around 1879 he reprinted views of Chartres and Reims cathedrals in "pantotypie" (collotype) from negatives taken by Henri Le Secq in 1852. Back in Brussels, he published a brochure: "Du rôle de la photographie dans la peinture", Brussels, Rosez, 1881, 14 pp. He styled himself "Vice-president of the 'Association belge de photographie' (section de Bruxelles)". He arrived from Arlon and was domiciled at Place Sainte-Gudule, 8, from 22.7.1882 to 4.12.1882. Declared bankrupt at his trading address Place Sainte-Gudule, 14 by court judgment of 3.6.1882. Domiciled at Montagne aux Herbes Potagères, 4 from 4.12.1882 to 31.10.1883.
1883 * - 1896 ca Bruxelles, Rue Van Artevelde, 88
Successor: Buffet Ch. & Cie #
Charles was domiciled at this address from 13.10.1883 to 22.10.1892. He took his son Georges as a collaborator, so that sometimes "Thiel, G." is listed in the directories, and even erroneously as "Georges, Père". On CV, "Georges Thiel, Charles Thiel, director; artistic, industrial & commercial photography; carbon printing, photomechanical printing [...] Specialty: snapshot portraits". "Industrial photography in the studio or on site. Copying of all sorts and enlargements to any size. Club groups" [Rozez, 1887]. Charles Aîné seems to have taken over the management of the studio after the departure of his son Georges at the end of 1892.
On CV, 1896 ca: "Six first medals. Hors concours. Diplomas of honour in Paris, London, Santiago, Ghent, Brussels, Louvain". Also note "Thiel frères", Quai Saint-Jean-Baptiste, 42, Nice [F], 1890 ca.
1892 * - 1902 + Bruxelles, Rue Jules Van Praet, 9 renumbered 17<10.8.00>
Successor: Thiel Veuve Ch.
Arrived at this address on 22.10.1892. On CV, "Thiel", then "Thiel Père". "Georges, Père" erroneously in the directories. The studios in Rue Van Artevelde and Rue Jules Van Praet coexisted for a time. Subsequently, CVs mention "Formerly Rue Van Artevelde; there is no branch studio. Industrial photography and all kinds of copying". A photograph by "Thiel Père, photographer to the public prosecutor", was published in 1900 in "Le National Illustré". An obituary stated that "Mr Thiel, photographer of the Brussels public prosecutor's office since 1880, died suddenly on Thursday afternoon in his studio, Rue Jules Van Praet" (Het Nieuws van den Dag, 18.1.1902).

1881 * - 1882 / Bruxelles, Place Sainte-Gudule, 14
1883 * - 1896 ca Bruxelles, Rue Van Artevelde, 88
1892 * - 1902 + Bruxelles, Rue Jules van Praet, 9 renumbered 17<10.8.00>

Paris, 1874; Santiago, 1875; Brussels, 1875; Paris, 1876; Ghent, 1880.

Association belge de Photographie

DIRECTORY_1997#4093

SFJ revised 1.10.2017 & 18.5.2018; SFJ revised 10.9.2019, 26.1.2021 & 16.10.2023 based on information supplied by M. Demaeght