Antonij Andreas de Meyer Paintings

Adolph de Meyer, born in Paris as Adolphus Meyer, was a photographer famed for his photographic portraits in the early 20th century, often credited as Baron Adolph de Meyer. He was known by various versions of his name throughout his life, including Baron Adolf Gayne de Meyer, Baron Adolph de Meyer-Watson, and Baron Adolph von Meyer. The name Antonij Andreas de Meyer does not correspond to a recognized artist in art historical records; instead, it appears to be a variation or a misattribution of Adolph de Meyer's name.

Adolph de Meyer was born in Paris to a German father and Scottish mother. He grew up in a cosmopolitan environment and was educated in various European cities. De Meyer's early years were shrouded in mystery, and he was known for constructing a persona that included fabricated tales of nobility. Despite the ambiguity surrounding his title of nobility, his talent as a photographer was genuine.

In 1899, de Meyer married Olga Caracciolo, a goddaughter of Edward VII. The marriage was considered a lavender marriage, as de Meyer was homosexual and the union provided social cover for both individuals. His wife's connections to the British royal family and high society facilitated de Meyer's introduction to the world of fashion and portraiture.

De Meyer's photographic career took off in the 1910s. He became the first official fashion photographer for Vogue in 1913, a position he held until 1921. His work involved taking portraits of high society figures and celebrities as well as shooting fashion editorials. He was known for his elegant, Pictorialist style, which utilized soft focus and experimental lighting to create a painterly effect.

In 1922, de Meyer joined the newly launched magazine Harper's Bazaar as a chief photographer, working under the editorship of Carmel Snow. His distinctive style continued to influence the visual language of fashion photography. However, with the rise of modernist aesthetics in photography, his Pictorialist approach fell out of fashion.

De Meyer's influence declined in the 1930s, and he spent his later years in relative obscurity. He died in Los Angeles in 1946, and despite his earlier fame, his contributions to photography were largely forgotten until they were rediscovered and reassessed by art historians and collectors in the later 20th century. Today, de Meyer is recognized as a pioneer of fashion photography whose work bridged the gap between fine art and the commercial world of fashion.