Note : There is no collaborating images of Emile to confirm the above. This man appears in newspaper ads for his Photographic school.
Note : There is no collaborating images of Emile to confirm the above. This man appears in newspaper ads for his Photographic school.

Born : 1874 - Chateauneuf, France

Died : 1944 - New York, USA

Married : Gladyse McCloud ( b.1880 )

Children : Glayse ( b.1911 )

 

Photographer, Sculptor, Film Maker, Inventor

 

AMERICAN

 1931 : This image of Meher Baba is the one used for his passport.
1931 : This image of Meher Baba is the one used for his passport.

Click on the 'underlined names' to visit those web pages on this web site.

S.S. Bremen docked in New York in the 1930s
S.S. Bremen docked in New York in the 1930s

 

1931

 

After staying in America for one month, at the stroke of midnight late at night on Saturday, 5 December 1931, Baba sailed on the North German Lloyd liner SS Bremen for France, accompanied by Chanji, Agha Ali and Meredith.  

During the voyage, Baba remained in his cabin, preferring seclusion and avoiding going out lest he be recognized. Very often his fingers would spell out the names of his American lovers on the alphabet board, remembering them and perhaps inwardly sending them his love. 

The Atlantic Ocean was quite rough during the first few days of the crossing and most of the passengers stayed inside as waves crashed across the decks. Since Baba and the mandali's cabins were situated in the center of the ship, the rolling effects were minimal. The five-day voyage was a period of relaxation and rest for him after his strenuous work in America. Baba liked his accommodations and the food pleased him.

 

On the last day of the trip, 10 December 1931, a few newspaper reporters, photographers and an artist found out about Meher Baba's presence and they requested to be permitted to take his picture. Baba granted their request and as the ship's band played in the background, several photographs were taken, as well as one short reel of film — but all of these photographs and the film have been lost.

 

The artist present at the photographing, Emile Brunel, 57, later came to Baba's cabin with a friend, an Armenian carpet dealer of Los Angeles named H. P. Philibosian.  Brunel, a prominent New York City portrait artist and celebrity photographer, requested to do a sketch of Baba in his white robe, and surprisingly, Baba permitted it. While posing, Baba spoke with him about spiritual and religious subjects.

While drawing Baba in his sketchbook, Brunel remarked to Chanji, "You know, he looks like Christ. He has nothing 'human' in him. There is something more — something supernatural. It is all. His beautiful features are an artist's dream."

Brunel invited Baba to visit his studio on Fifth Avenue and wished to see him again in Paris, but Baba did not wish to meet any outsiders while in Paris and gently refused.

 

Lord Meher Volume 4, Page 1500 - 1st edition printed.Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1336

Drawing of Meher Baba by Emile Brunel

The above drawing has been photo-edited from the original ( below ) by Anthony Zois. The image is actually a photo copy of the original which is courtesy of Cynthia & Evgeny Nikitin, the current owners of Brunel Park in New York State.
The above drawing has been photo-edited from the original ( below ) by Anthony Zois. The image is actually a photo copy of the original which is courtesy of Cynthia & Evgeny Nikitin, the current owners of Brunel Park in New York State.
This scrapbook page was created by Emile's daughter Gladyse after her father died. This is courtesy of Cynthia & Evgeny Nikitin , the current owners of Brunel Park in New York State. This page was trimmed of irrelevant material.
This scrapbook page was created by Emile's daughter Gladyse after her father died. This is courtesy of Cynthia & Evgeny Nikitin , the current owners of Brunel Park in New York State. This page was trimmed of irrelevant material.

Webmaster : The photos that Emile Brunel took of Meher Baba have never been seen. Their whereabouts are unknown.

Meher Baba in his cabin on an unknown ship.
Meher Baba in his cabin on an unknown ship.

Disembarking at the port of Cherbourg on Friday, 11 December 1931, Baba arrived in Paris that evening and stayed at the Hotel Powers at 52 rue François. Margaret Starr, Margaret Craske, Delia, Kim and twelve-year-old John Cousins had arrived in Paris the previous day and joined Baba.  The next day, Kitty and her niece Zilla arrived in the afternoon.  At night, they went to the Aubert Palace and saw Charlie Chaplin's City Lights and another night a Laurel & Hardy film.

Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1337

Map of the S.S. Bremen & Europa's route between Europe and the United States of America
Map of the S.S. Bremen & Europa's route between Europe and the United States of America
The S.S. Bremen in Cherbourg's harbour
The S.S. Bremen in Cherbourg's harbour

52 rue François 1er, 75008 , Paris, France

A block from the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, this posh hotel is a 6-minute walk from George V metro station and 1.2 km from the Arc de Triomphe

 

Baba stayed here on the 11th December, 1931 and again on the 7th May,1932 on the 5th Floor.

1931 : Meher Baba and his group later visited other places in Paris.
1931 : Meher Baba and his group later visited other places in Paris.
1930
1930

24 Boulevard des Italiens, Paris, France

1931 film poster of the film Meher Baba saw at this cinema.
1931 film poster of the film Meher Baba saw at this cinema.

Some of the advertisements for Brunel's studio and schools

Examples of Emile Brunel's photographic work

 

Emile Brunel is also credited in Producing & Directing a silent film in 1916 called

"The Hand of God".

No other details of this film is known.

Emile Brunel's Studios & Photographic Schools

 

516 5th Avenue at the N.W. corner of 43rd Street

516 5th Avenue at the N.W. corner of 43rd Street. 1915 exterior
516 5th Avenue at the N.W. corner of 43rd Street. 1915 exterior

1269  BROADWAY, NEW YORK

141-145 WEST  &  36TH STREETS, NEW YORK

Emile Brunel was a noted artist, painter, filmmaker and photographer. Brunel worked as a photojournalist for the New York Times Magazine and earned a certain degree of fame as a portrait photographer. In 1910 he founded the New York Institute of Photography (NYIP), which continues to train photographers today. Brunel would also develop a one-hour film development process, a process unique and ahead of its time.

BRUNEL FAMILY HOME - BRONX

Emile & his family lived at 6040 Spencer Avenue, Bronx, New York while he worked in New York City.
Emile & his family lived at 6040 Spencer Avenue, Bronx, New York while he worked in New York City.

BRUNEL  SCULPTURE  PARK, BOICEVILLE,  NEW YORK STATE

 

In 1918 Brunel began operating a successful Catskills resort called Chalet Indien in Boiceville. In 1918 Brunel also began work as a sculptor, creating a series of works between 1918 and 1944 that can still be seen today.

The Emile Brunel Studio and Sculpture Garden, also known as Emile Brunel Park, is situated in Boiceville on 1.2 acres of what was Brunel’s Chalet Indien resort property. After Brunel’s death in 1944, and with the construction of Route 28 through the hotel property in 1947, the hotel closed and the sculptures were moved to their current location and much of the remaining property sold. Brunel’s wife and later his daughter would operate a trading post and museum on the property until the 1980s.

Brunel Park contains his studio, three large scale sculptures, two totem poles and several small scale sculptures. The Emile Brunel Studio and Sculpture Garden is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “an unusual and unique regional collection of folk art dating from the early twentieth century” and “is a rare surviving example of roadside art and architecture in the upper Hudson Valley.” (1)

The Emile Brunel studio building (seen here) was constructed in 1929 using the “craftsman” architectural style yet “strongly influenced by French country design.” “The most significant aspect of the house are the works of art carved by Brunel into the concrete stucco exterior finish. A relief carving spans the south elevation of the studio. Located between the exposed basement level and first floor the frieze measures about three feet in height. It depicts a Native American village scene. The scene includes hunters returning from a successful hunt, a tribal Shaman, Indian scouts in canoes, a Squaw with her two children, and two scouts keeping a vigilant lookout. Also in the piece is the image of Brunel.” (2)