Kom-Ombou (Ombos)
Artist: Felix Teynard (French, 1817-1892)
Date: about 1853-1858
Dimensions:
Overall: 14 15/16 x 19 5/8 in. (37.9 x 49.8 cm);
Image: 9 7/16 x 12 1/8 in. (24 x 30.8 cm)
Medium: calotype
Classification: Photographs
Credit Line: Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number: 1992.22
Label Text:Félix Teynard was the first to publish a major portfolio of photographs of the ancient architecture of Egypt. Using the relatively new medium, which was little more than a decade old, he produced magnificent images. This particular photograph demonstrates Frith’s sensitivity to the rich possibilities of the paper-negative (calotpye) process, an uncommon grasp of the physical nature (size, placement, materials) of man-made structures, and a tangible respect of history.
At the time this photograph was made, the calotype had just been introduced. Photographs made from paper negatives have a soft, atmospheric quality—as if the subjects are somehow suspended on the paper. The lack of any living thing in this picture, especially a human for scale as seen in almost all the other photographs and illustrations in this exhibition, only adds to the mystery and poetry of the subject and process.
At the time this photograph was made, the calotype had just been introduced. Photographs made from paper negatives have a soft, atmospheric quality—as if the subjects are somehow suspended on the paper. The lack of any living thing in this picture, especially a human for scale as seen in almost all the other photographs and illustrations in this exhibition, only adds to the mystery and poetry of the subject and process.
Not on view
In Collection(s)