Mlle Stella

An inked inscription verso in a period hand identifies the sitter.

Photographed by Charles Reutlinger of Paris.

The Reutlingers were a French family of German descent. The family photographic business was founded in Paris in 1850 by Charles Reutlinger, and the studio became famous for its portraits of the actors, artists, musicians, composers, opera singers and ballet dancers of the period. In 1880, Charles handed over his studio to his brother, Emile Reutlinger. In 1883, Emile's son, Léopold-Emile Reutlinger, who had been born in Peru in 1863, arrived in Paris and began to work for his father, eventually taking over the studio in 1890. Léopold continued at the helm of a very successful business until he lost an eye in an accident with a champagne cork in 1930, forcing him into retirement. He died in Paris on 16 March 1937.