Illustration showing Boely at an organ

[Denis O'Connor]

There is a charming picture  which purports to be A P F Boely at an ancient organ. Can anyone point me to a source whence a copy might be made? Many thanks.

[Dee Surtees]

I don’t think I’ve seen such a picture, so can’t help answer your query. But I would be interested in seeing it if someone is able to track it down. Do you know which organ? Was it St Gervais, perhaps?

[Rowland Wateridge]

See the link below.  I assume this is the picture.  The organ is Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois - Clicquot 1771-Dallery 1840

https://menissier.org/alexandre-boely

[John Furse]

The abbreviation "Coll. part.", following the copyright symbol, is short for "collection particulière" - private collection.

What is now needed is to track down 'DR'. Cue our French-based experts ?

That well-upholstered bench is very high for M. Boëly: his foot is fully flexed and only his big toe looks as if it's making contact with the pedal. I presume that apparently empty ironwork brazier is there to provide heat for a chilly loft, when required. No wonder so many churches burned down. There's a candle-holder for the pedals, too; with two behind him, on the Positif de dos.

[S_L]

Perhaps an email to Francois Menissier, the titulaire at St. Nicolas des Champs in Paris. The photograph appears on his website so he, presumably, can tell you where it came from. There is a Contact page on the website.

Francois also has a facebook page François Ménissier | Facebook

[John Furse]

On 19/03/2021 at 07:27, John Furse said:

What is now needed is to track down 'DR'.

I have a horrid suspicion that "DR" is another abbreviation: for droits réservés.

But by or for whom ?

[Rowland Wateridge]

The page which I linked above is from M. Ménissier’s website.  It includes a contact form and a wealth of other information about instruments and repertoire is accessible in the usual way from the links across the top of the page. Helpfully, M. Ménissier also provides his personal biography in English.  He has performed in many places and many countries, but only Scotland, it seems, in the UK.  Among different musical ensembles with which M. Ménissier has performed, S_L will particularly note that these include a serpentist!

DR can have several possible meanings (although droits réservés does seem most likely), but contacting M. Ménissier will be the safest way of finding out.  Without actually checking, copyright is claimed, I think, for all of the illustrations.