7 January 1839: The Science Academy in Paris announced the arrival of a new art: photography. 39 days later, on 16 February 1839, the historic invention was reported in the Jassy magazine Albina Românească.The first camera – a daguerreotype – known and used in Bucharest was bought in 1840 for St. Sava College at the initiative of Petrache Poenaru, inventor of the "bearer pencil", i.e. the fountain pen.The first Bucharest photographers preferred to open studios in manor houses and hotel-inns, the landmarks of the city. The oldest photo studios date from 1843: Wilhelmine Prinz (in Kladek House, then on French Street), and Carol Popp de Szathmary (at Green Inn, later on Mogoşoaia Bridge, today Calea Victoriei)l; they were followed by Alexandru Bellu-Bellio (1850-1924), a boyar of ancient noble extraction, mentioned in the Encyclopedie Internationale des Photographes.Carol Popp de Szathmary (1812-1887) was one of the greatest photograph artists of 19th-century Europe. He is considered to be the first war reporter in the world on account of his 200-plus battle scenes from the first Crimean War (1854). He was photographer to several royal and imperial houses of Europe.Franz Duschek opened his first studio in 1868 on New St. (today Edgar Quinet St.); he was photographer to the Royal Court of Romania; Franz Mandy owned a studio at 21 Mogoşoaia St. and was the first to keep records of photographic negatives; he was also photographer to the Royal Court of Romania; Max Schwartz (studio in 1882) was photographer of the Legislative Bodies; and Mihai and Ion Spirescu (father and son) were two of the best heliominiateurs.
by Ion C. Rogojanu
