The Origins of Photography, 1839-1888
The works comprised in this section illustrate the historical appearance of photography in the 19th century, at the height of the pre-industrial age, when the technological complexity of the medium made it barely affordable, and hindered its popularisation.
Photography in this period was chiefly used to document historical monuments, great architectural and engineering works, picturesque spots and photographic journeys in the tradition of 18th-century illustrated prints and vistas, and played a decisive role in portraiture.
The first photographic studios appeared in the second half of the 19th century, and their popularity in bourgeois circles will steadily grow, initially by way of the daguerrotype (a unique print that preserves the preciousness of cameos and miniatures) and subsequently via visiting cards, which will encourage reproduction and grant wider access to portraiture.
Victoria de Bourbon,
Comtesse de Mascali
