Félix Bonfils Albumen Silver Print Photograph of Athens

Item Details

Félix Bonfils (French, 1831 – 1885)
Athenes – Cariatides de l’Erechteion, Grece, late 19th century
Signed in plate to the lower right
Marked to the lower right, appears to read “517”
Marked “No. 74” after blind stamp along the right edge

Born in France, Félix Bonfils was best known for his photography of the Middle East and Athens. In 1867, Bonfils and his wife, Lydie, with their two young children, moved from the South of France to Lebanon, in hopes that the arid climate would be beneficial to their son Adrien, who suffered from respiratory ailments. It was there that he and Lydie founded Maison Bonfils, one of the most renowned and prolific commercial photography studios of its time. Bonfils produced thousands of photos of Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Constantinople, and Palestine, often orchestrating posed scenes with figures dressed in traditional Middle Eastern garb, or reenacted Biblical scenes. He photographed major ruins and landmarks in Athens which, even today, provide valuable insight to the condition of those ancient monuments and what that terrain looked like over 125 years ago.

Condition

- slight marks to the upper left and foxing to the verso; discoloration to the image; photograph dry-mounted to paper backing; slight bowing to mat and backing.

Dimensions

- measures mat; visible image measures 8.0" W x 10.5" H.

Item #

ITMG523259