London life through a Frenchman's eyes

Adelina Patti as Harriet in Martha, 1861 Photograph: Camille Silvy/Private Collection, Paris Photograph: Camille Silvy/guardian.co.uk James Pinson Labulo Davies and Sarah Forbes Bonetta (Sarah Davies), 1862 Photograph: Camille Silvy/National Portrait Gallery, London Photograph: Camille Silvy/guardian.co.uk Proof sheet of Madame Silvy, c1865 Photograph: Camille Silvy/Private Collection, Paris Photograph: Camille Silvy/guardian.co.uk Self-portrait, 1863 Photograph: Camille Silvy/Private Collection, Paris Photograph: Camille Silvy/guardian.co.uk Silvy in his Studio with his Family, 1866 Photograph: Camille Silvy/Private Collection, Paris Photograph: Camille Silvy/guardian.co.uk The Misses Booth, 1861 Photograph: Camille Silvy/K and J Jacobson Collection Photograph: Camille Silvy/guardian.co.uk Studies on Light: Twilight, 1859 Photograph: Camille Silvy/guardian.co.uk Photograph: Camille Silvy/Private Collection, Paris