Verbaet, Charles

Identity

Category

Person (Male)

Alternative name or descriptor

  • Photographie Américaine (in Tongres)

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Status

  • Professional

Details

Life dates

Antwerp, 1828 - Charleroi, 1880

Activity

1860 Tongres, Rue des Sarraux, "Café Suisse"
Charles François, ° 26.9.1828; + 8.12.1880. Recorded as a house painter domiciled in Mechelen at the occasion of his wedding in Gheel on 19.11.1857. On the premises of Mr Cordie: "American Photography. Mr Verbaet informs the public that he will stay a while in Tongres and take photographic portraits at moderate prices. Resemblance guaranteed. Price with frame from 1 fr. 50 c. to 20 frs" (De Postrijder, 22.9.1860). The mentions of frames and American photography indicate that Verbaet was principally an ambrotypist here.
1864 ca - 1875 Charleroi, [Boulevard de] l'Entre-Deux-Villes<69-74>
CV, 1864 ca, no place indicated but probably based in Charleroi, bearing a pictorial lithographed backmark of one putto behind a studio camera photographing another putto. The studio here, situated on the thoroughfare linking the upper and lower towns, was variously described in advertisements as "between the two gates of the upper town" or "on the mountain". Known as the "Birdman of Charleroi", Verbaet also ran an avian menagerie and pet shop here and organised occasional animal performances. His display of Wowo-Wowo-Nina, a domesticated female orang-outan, caused some stir in Charleroi in March 1874. But even when selling "six magnificent laurel trees" (Journal de Charleroi, 10.1.1875), Verbaet styled himself a photographer. Verbaet's death certificate gave his profession as photographer.

Locations

1860 Tongres, Rue des Sarraux, "Café Suisse"
1864 ca - 1875 Charleroi, [Boulevard de] l'Entre-Deux-Villes<69-74>

Exhibitions

Genres / subject matter

Techniques

Bibliography/Webography

Context

Affiliations

Management

Record source

DIRECTORY_2017#0993

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation/revision

SFJ new 8.12.2018; SFJ revised 14.5.2019 & 23.12.2020 based on information supplied by M. Demaeght; MD revised 22.6.2020

Language(s)

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Sources

Maintenance notes

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