Antiquity and Photography: Early Views of Ancient Mediterranean Sites

The invention of the daguerreotype and calotype processes fundamentally changed scholarly and aesthetic approaches to the past. The accuracy and immediacy of photographs gave scientists a new means to document and study ancient architecture, artifacts, and language. At the same, the first photographers to visit ancient Mediterranean sites saw themselves as artists using the new medium to capture what had up to then been represented only by draftsmen or painters. The early photographs were rapidly disseminated among a wider audience eager to see, rather than merely imagine, the remnants of antiquity. Today these images are still prized, both for their vision and originality and for their inherent documentary value. The early photographs of the Roman Forum, the Acropolis in Athens, and the pyramids of Giza have made these sites a part of our shared cultural experience, fixing them in our minds as places of historic—and mythic—significance. Antiquity and Photography explores the influence of photography on archaeology between 1840 and 1880. This was the period that saw the evolution of archaeology as a professional discipline as well as the rapid growth of the new photographic medium. With illustrations drawn from the collections of the Getty Museum and the Getty Research Institute, the essays in this book examine the growth of archaeology as a scientific discipline and its increasing reliance on photographic documentation, and they consider some of the conventions that came to govern the ostensibly objective photographs of antiquities and ancient sites. Biographical essays explore the careers of two major early photographers, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey and William James Stillman. In addition, portfolios with works by Maxime Du Camp, John Beasley Greene, Francis Frith, Robert Macpherson, Adolphe Braun, and others testify to the strength and consistency of other early photographers who captured the antique worlds around the Mediterranean. Table of Contents Abbreviations Foreword William Griswold and Thomas Crow Preface Marion True and Weston Naef Map of the Mediterranean Introduction Andrew Szegedy-Maszak The Art and Science of Antiquity in Nineteenth-century Photography Claire L. Lyons In Perfect Order: Antiquity in the Daguerreotypes of Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey Lindsey S. Stewart Portfolio: Plates I–VIII Maxime Du Camp, Félix Teynard, John Beasley Greene, Gustave Le Gray, Francis Frith Antiquity Depicted John K. Papadopoulos An American on the Acropolis: William James Stillman Andrew Szegedy-Maszak Portfolio: Plates IX–XVI Robert Macpherson Giorgio Sommer Tommaso Cuccioni Braun, Clément et Cie Notes Index About the Authors Claire L. Lyons is collections curator at the Getty Research Institute. John K. Papadopoulos is professor of classics and archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Lindsey S. Stewart is an independent photography consultant. Antiquity & Photography Explores The Influence Of Photography On Archaeology Between 1840 And 1880. This Was The Period That Saw The Evolution Of Archaeology As A Professional Discipline As Well As The Rapid Growth Of The New Photographic Medium. With Illustrations Drawn From The Collections Of The Getty Museum And The Getty Research Institute, The Essays In This Book Examine The Growth Of Archaeology As A Scientific Discipline And Its Increasing Reliance On Photographic Documentation, And They Consider Some Of The Conventions That Came To Govern The Ostensibly Objective Photographs Of Antiquities And Ancient Sites. Biographical Essays Explore The Careers Of Two Major Early Photographers, Joseph-philibert Girault De Prangey And William James Stillman. In Addition, Portfolios With Works By Maxime Du Camp, John Beasley Greene, Francis Frith, Robert Macpherson, Adolphe Braun And Others Testify To The Strength And Consistency Of Other Early Photographers Who Captured The Antique Worlds Around The Mediterranean.--jacket. Introduction / Andrew Szegedy-maszak -- The Art And Science Of Antiquity In Nineteenth-century Photography / Claire L. Lyons -- In Perfect Order : Antiquity In The Daguerreotypes Of Joseph-philibert Girault De Prangey / Lindsey S. Stewart -- Portfolio: Maxime Du Camp, Félix Teynard, John Beasley Greene, Gustave Le Gray, Francis Frith -- Antiquity Depicted / John K. Papadopoulos -- An American On The Acropolis: William James Stillman / Andrew Szegedy-maszak -- Portfolio: Robert Macpherson, Giorgio Sommer, Tommaso Cuccioni, Braun, Clément Et Cie. Claire L. Lyons, John K. Papadopoulos, Lindsey S. Stewart... [et Al.]. Published In Conjunction With An Exhibition Held At The Getty Villa, Malibu, Winter-spring, 2006. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Following the invention of the daguerreotype and calotype processes in 1839, views of ruins, classical statuary, and the antiquities of the Mediterranean and the Orient were among the first images produced by pioneer photographers. The unique accuracy and immediacy of photographs fundamentally changed aesthetic and scholarly approaches to the artifacts of the past. This groundbreaking book explores the intellectual underpinnings of the relationship between antiquity and photography in the period 1840-1880. Drawing on the extensive collections of the Getty Museum and the Getty Research Institute, this richly illustrated volume presents an introduction to the subject, followed by a detailed discussion of the influence of photography on archaeology, an analysis of the ways antiquity is depicted, and biographical studies of two major photographers, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey and William James Stillman. Portfolios of works by Maxime Du Camp, John B. Greene, Francis Frith, Robert Macpherson, Adolphe Braun, and others appear between the essays. Introduction / Andrew Szegedy-Maszak The art and science of antiquity in nineteenth-century photography / Claire L. Lyons In perfect order : antiquity in the daguerreotypes of Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey / Lindsey S. Stewart Portfolio: Maxime du Camp, John B. Greene, Félix Teynard, Gustave Legray, Francis Frith Antiquity depicted / John K. Papadopoulos An American on the Acropolis: William James Stillman / Andrew Szegedy-Maszak Portfolio: Robert Macpherson, Giorgio Sommer, Tommaso Cuccioni, Braun et cie. Cover 1 Contents 8 Abbreviations 9 Foreword 12 Preface 14 Map of the Mediterranean 17 INTRODUCTION 19 THE ART AND SCIENCE OF ANTIQUITY IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHY 39 IN PERFECT ORDER: ANTIQUITY IN THE DAGUERREOTYPES OF JOSEPH-PHILIBERT GIRAULT DE PRANGEY 83 PORTFOLIO: Plates I - VIII 111 ANTIQUITY DEPICTED 121 AN AMERICAN ON THE ACROPOLIS: WILLIAM JAMES STILLMAN 165 PORTFOLIO: Plates IX - XVI 213 Notes 223 Index 236