Drunken Faun - Early photography, Public domain image

Claude-Marie Ferrier was a French photographer who was born in 1811 in Lyon, France. He began his career as an artist, studying painting and drawing at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Lyon. However, he soon became interested in photography and began to experiment with the new medium. Ferrier became known for his portraits of prominent figures in French society, including politicians, artists and writers. He also photographed landscapes and architecture, capturing the beauty of France's cities and countryside. In 1855, Ferrier took part in the Exposition Universelle de Paris, where he exhibited his photographs alongside other pioneering photographers of the time. He was awarded a silver medal for his work. Ferrier continued to work as a photographer until his death in 1889. His legacy lives on through his photographs, which are now held in collections around the world.