Southern Portion of the Rock-cut Temple of Hathor, Abu Simbel

Series Title: Égypte, Nubie, Palestine et Syrie. Dessins photographiques receuillis pendant les années 1849,1850 et 1851 accompagnes d'un text explicatif et précédés d'une introduction par Maxime Du Camp, pl. 10

Southern Portion of the Rock-cut Temple of Hathor, Abu Simbel

1850

Maxime Du Camp

(French, 1822–1894)

publisher

Gide et J. Baudry

Culture

France, 19th century

Medium

salted paper print from calotype negative, Blanquart-Évrard process

Measurements

Image: 16.5 x 21.5 cm (6 1/2 x 8 7/16 in.); Paper: 29.5 x 37.5 cm (11 5/8 x 14 3/4 in.); Matted: 40.6 x 50.8 cm (16 x 20 in.)

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund 1989.53

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Location

Not on view

Description

Du Camp was the first photographer to depict the marvels of ancient Egypt. In 1849 a scholarly association commissioned the young writer to document Egyptian monuments and their hieroglyphics. He learned to photograph shortly before embarking for Egypt in the company of the young novelist Gustave Flaubert. In 1852 Du Camp published an album of photographs of Egypt, Nubia, Palestine, and Syria, which brought him widespread recognition. Just as Du Camp followed in the footsteps of earlier painters and scholars, later photographers like Beato often echoed his choices of subject matter.