Adolphe Terris

Adolphe Terris was a photographer whose documented period of professional activity spanned a brief but significant four years, from 1862 to 1866. His surviving work is characteristic of mid-19th century architectural documentation, focusing on the massive urban infrastructure and renovation projects transforming French cities during the Second Empire.

The core of Terris’s known output is dedicated to recording construction and deconstruction within Marseille. Specific documented projects include the Renovation of the Old City of Marseille, Rue Caves de l'Oratoire and the extensive Construction of Rue Impériale in Marseille. View of the Construction Site from the Middle of Rue Montbrion. These works serve as essential historical records of 19th-century urban planning and development. Terris also captured interior or studio subjects, exemplified by titles such as Casts of Architectural Details in a Studio and multiple works titled Four Statues.

Ten photographs by Adolphe Terris are represented in major collections, establishing his significance as a historical documentarian. His works are held by institutions including the National Gallery of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). As historical images that have entered the public domain, Terris’s photographs are often sought as high-quality prints for architectural study and historical reference.