- Détails
- Création : 23 avril 2024
- Mis à jour : 13 juin 2024
- Publication : 23 avril 2024
Albert J. PÉRIER
([Lyon], [1871]-Sydney, 1964)
Jean-Claude SEGUIN
2
Les origines (1871-1895)
La famille Périer, dont les origines restent incertaines, serait arrivée en Australie vers 1882-1884, à bord du steamer R.M.S. Sorata, mais les documents manquent pour pouvoir confirmer ces informations non sourcées.
En avril 1887, un certain "Monsieur Perier" - très probablement Edouard Périer - propose des cours de français. Il habite alors 28, Lower Fort-street. Cette annonce est publiée jusqu'en avril 1892.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, mercredi 13 avril 1887, p. 12.
Quant à Albert James Périer, il occupe, en août 1890, un poste (secrétaire-adjoint ?) à la Steamship Owner's Association of Australasia.
The Australian Star, Sydney, mardi 26 août 1890, p. 1.
C'est en mai 1887 que Thomas Baker et J.J. Rouse rachètent, à Melbourne, le fonds de commerce de la Lichtner & Co. Ils deviennent également les agents de la Eastman Company. C'est en 1891 que les commerçants ouvrent un nouveau magasin à Sydney. Il est généralement admis que c'est à cette époque qu'Albert Périer commence à travailler dans l'établissement des deux collaborateurs.
Dans un témoignage plus tardif, Albert James Périer évoque la figure de la célèbre actrice française Sarah Bernhardt qui arrive à Sydney à la fin du mois de mai 1891 et qu'il a l'occasion de rencontrer :
Memories of Bernhardt
DRESSED as a Roman soldier, crying "Voila la flotte!" ("There is the fleet!"), M. Albert Perier dashed on to the stage of Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, in 1891 when the great French actress Sarah Bernhardt was playing "Cleopatre."
We met M. Perier, now in his eighties, when we went to the French Consulate-General to see an exhibition of photographs, letters, and programmes that commemorated the 66th anniversary of Bernhardt's Australian visit. White-moustached M. Perier, a glass of pink champagne in his hand, recalled the time when he did a walk on part with the Bernhardt ensemble.
"I remember how Sarah Bernhardt made her entrance in the play," he said. "The scene was the Nile and Bernhardt reclined in a barge.
"She had dark auburn hair and wore an Egyptian gown, and the young men in Sydney rivalled one another to get walk-on parts in her company.
"The plays were in French. My father was Professor of French at Sydney University, so I was accepted and given one line to say."
M. Perier, only surviving member of the company, showed us a programme of "Cleopatre" on which his name appeared right at the bottom.
"Wrongly spelt, unfortunately," he said with a smile. "They've got me down as Perret, not Perier."
The Australian Women's Weekly, mercredi 17 juillet 1957, p. 33.
Edouard Périer, le père, reprend en janvier 1893 ses annonces sous une forme légèrement différente et réside alors au 13 Dartinghurst-rd.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, samedi 14 janvier 1893, p. 12.
Le Cinographoscope (1896-1899)
L'intérêt que porte Albert, James Périer à la photographie et à ses perfectionnements le conduit à faire l'acquisition d'un appareil cinématographique, sans doute vers la fin de l'année 1896 si l'on en croit ses souvenirs :
lt was not until towards the end of the year 1896 that the kinematograph itself came to Sydney. Three machines for the projection of kinematograph films were landed by three different people in Sydney. Probably the first one to arrive was one imported by Mr Perier himself, in his capacity as manager for Messrs. Baker and Rouse, and Mr G. Neymark. This instrument was a projector manufactured by A.J. Pipon, of Paris. As the whole stock of films sent with it consisted of only 12 subjects, the owners awaited further supplies before making a public exhibition.
[...]
In the meantime the Pipon machine was taken to Melbourne, and a salon was opened in Collins-street.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, vendredi 9 juin 1922, p. 9.
Les frères Alexandre et Jules Pipon, en collaboration avec René Pressecq, ont déposé un brevet pour un appareil de prise de vue auquel ils donnent le nom de Cinographoscope (Brevet FR 254394 du 2 mars 1896). C'est donc avec cet appareil que des projections vont bien avoir lieu à Melbourne dans un salon ouvert sur la Collins-street, à la fin du mois d'octobre, mais la presse fait apparaître le nom de G. Neywark. Les projections ont lieu du 26 octobre au 9 novembre 1896, puis l'appareil est vendu à M. Vanheem qui l'installe à Bendigo à partir du 13 novembre.
The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, samedi 16 janvier 1897, p. 3.
Le cinématographe ne constitue qu'une petite partie des activités d'Albert J. Périer qui reste surtout un photographe :
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY.
The Amateur Photographic Society of New South Wales held its monthly meeting on Tuesday night at the rooms in Hunter-street, Mr. Smidmore presiding. Further additions were made to the roll of membership, which, compared with the corresponding period of last year, shows a big increase. The hon. secretary, Mr. E.T. Davis, announced the conditions under which a lantern slide competition would be held next month. Attention was also drawn to a valuable and highly interesting paper on the chemistry of photography, which would be read at the next meeting. Business over the members pleasantly occupied themselves in flashlight work. The operations, were conducted by Mr. Albert Perier, of Messrs. Baker and Rouse, whose ability in this class of work is well known.
The Australian Star, Sydney, jeudi 18 mars 1897, p. 2.
Membre de la Photographic Society, il y fait souvent des apparitions où il présente, parfois, un cinématographe :
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY.
The Photographic Society provided a remarkably pleasant evening's entertainment for their members and friends at the School of Arts last night. Messrs. Baker and Rouse, and Kerry generously supplied the society with lantern and slides, a cinematographe, a phonograph, and one or two other scientific novelties, out of which the company derived no end of pleasure. The cinematographic views included a local scene, Bent-street, which, of course, had an especial interest for those present. The evening's entertainment was further contributed to by the vocal items of some of the company. The cinematographe and other instruments were skilfully worked by Messrs. Albert Perier and G. Bradford.
The Australian Star, Sydney, jeudi 22 juin 1899, p. 3.
Mons. Perier's Book.
Every-body who has handled a copy of Mon. Edw. Perier's "Illutrated Method for Easily Learning or Teaching French" has recognised how easily the language may be acquired by this new system. We are pleased to learn that the Department of Public Instruction has sanctioned the use of Mons. Perier's book in our schools, and we don't doubt that it will induce hundreds of our young folks to learn French, because it's so easy and interesting by the new way.
The Sydney Stock and Station Journal, Sydney, mardi 31 octobre 1899, p. 8.
Et après... (1900-1964)
Albert James Périer poursuit dès les premières années du XXe siècle ses activités de photographe et certains de ses clichés sont publiés par la presse australienne.
A. J. Perier, "Duke and Suite Returning from the Review" (28 mai 1901)
The Sydney Mail, Sydney, samedi 8 juin 1901, p. 1434.
Il continue, alors, de travailler chez Rouse qu'il assiste, en particulier, à l'occasion des expositions qui sont organisées dans l'établissement.
Devanture du magasin de Baker & Rouse. Sydney. c. 1903.
Source: Museums Victoria Collections
AT HOME.
The "At Home" given by Mrs. J.J. Rouse yesterday in connection with the Photographic Society's Exhibition proved a highly enjoyable function. The guests, of whom there were a numerous gathering, were pleasantly entertained with a musical programme, one of the features of which was the pianola selections.
Miss Maud Dalrymple delighted the company with her songs, "Beloved, it is Morn", "Silver Ring", and "A Summer Night", and Mr. Bryce Carter contributed two or three much appreciated cello solos, Mr. E. Ivan Jones providing the pianola accompaniments. Mr. and Mrs. Rouse were untiring in their efforts to promote the enjoyment of their guests, and in doing the honours of the afternoon they were ably assisted by Mr. A. J. Perier.
The Australian Star, Sydney, jeudi 10 décembre 1903, p. 7.
PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.The "Australasian Photo. Review" (Baker and Rouse) Proprietary, Ltd.) for May contains much interesting matter, including most informing articles on "Film Development," by A. J. Perier and the "Control in Lantern Slide Making," by H. Wild. There are numerous illustrations—mostly reproductions from Kodak film negatives."The Red Funnel" (Union Steamship Co. of N.Z.) for June is to hand from Messrs. Gordon and Gotch, Ltd, This issue of the magazine is one of the best yet published. It is well illustrated, and contains many readable and informing articles, none more so than that entitled "The Fascination of the Uttermost South," by C. R. Ford, M.R.G.S.A., a member of the Antarctic Expedition of 1901.
Referee, Sydney, mercredi 30 mai 1906, p. 6.
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| Équipement photographique utilisé par Albert James Perier Source: Powerhouse Collection |
Mrs Perier and child [Reginald Perier] ([Albert, James Périer], c. 1907-1912) Source: Powerhouse Collection |
En juin 1911, son père, Edward Périer décède :
Mr. Edward Perier, well-known in Sydney as a private teacher, and for a considerable period employed by the Department of Public Instruction, died lost week from heart failure, at the age of 72 years, at his residence, Epacrls, 13 Darlinghurst-road. He resided in Sydney since 1882, -and devoted his life in this part, of the world to educational reforms, his great aim being to make education as pleasant as possible for young people. At the interment, which took place in the Waverley. Cemetery, the chief mourners were his two sons (Messrs. Charles and Albert James Perier), Dr. T. Fiaschi, and Mr. E. V. Finck.
The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, mercredi 14 juin 1911, p. 10.
Sources
PÉRIER Edward, Correspondance (1902).
