About Pierre Petit
Lived 1831 – 1909 (aged 77). Pierre Petit was a French entomologist, photographer, lithographer and visual artist.
Pierre Petit is not to be confused with (Jean) Pierre Yves-Petit (1886–1969), another French photographer who usually operated under the name Yvon.
Pierre Lanith Petit (; 15 August 1832 – 16 February 1909) was a French photographer. He is sometimes credited as Pierre Lamy Petit.
Work Petit learned photography in Paris in the workshop of André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri (1819–1889) (together with 76 other employees). In 1858, he opened his own workshop in Paris with Antoine René Trinquart, later to be called La Photographie des Deux Mondes. This proved to be very successful and workshops were opened in Baden-Baden and Marseille (in partnership with Emile Cazalis).
In his lifetime he made thousands of photographs. In 1908 he handed over the business to his son.
Some highlights in Petit's career: He was the official photographer of the International Exposition of 1867. He went to New York City several times to report on the construction of the Statue of Liberty. Petit made many photographs of the Siege of Paris (1870–71). In 1898, he made some attempts in underwater photography. He exhibited many times at the Société française de photographie (SFP).
Publications
Galerie des hommes de jour, a series of photographs of famous French people of the day, published in 1861 l'Episcopat français, clergé de Paris, a series of photographs of the clergy of Paris
Museums Museums that hold large collections of his photographs: in Chalon-sur-Saône Musée d'Orsay in Paris National Library of France in Paris National Portrait Gallery, London
Photographs
Portraits
Others
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Pierre Petit's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Pierre Petit?
French photographer (1831–1909)
When was Pierre Petit born?
Pierre Petit was born on 15 August 1831 in Aups.
When did Pierre Petit die?
Pierre Petit died on 16 February 1909 in 10ᵗʰ arrondissement of Paris.
What was Pierre Petit's occupation?
Pierre Petit was an entomologist, photographer, lithographer and visual artist.
What nationality was Pierre Petit?
Pierre Petit was French.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Pierre Petit (photographer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Pierre Petit. https://biography.guide/pierre-petit-entomologist/
MLA: "Pierre Petit." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/pierre-petit-entomologist/.
Chicago: "Pierre Petit." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/pierre-petit-entomologist/.
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