An elevated panoramic view over Paris, taken from a raised vantage point on the right bank, showing the Seine River crossed by several bridges (including what appear to be the Pont Neuf and Pont des Arts), the Île de la Cité, and a dense expanse of rooftops receding toward the horizon. In the immediate foreground stands a mansarded wing of the Louvre or Tuileries complex, with an adjacent formal garden still under construction and a temporary footbridge spanning the river below.
A manuscript inscription on the reverse, dated 9 April 1857, describes the print as a "calotype en 2 temps" (a paper negative made in two exposures), a technique period photographers used to compensate for the limited sensitivity of paper negatives, particularly in rendering sky and ground tonal ranges within a single exposure. The inscription further identifies the subject as a view of the right bank of Paris, supporting a dating of the print to 1857.
Photographer/publisher: Unknown (manuscript dedication on the reverse names an amateur photographer, surname not clearly legible)
Period/date: 1857
Dimensions: 175 x 85 mm
Condition: Good; the mount shows scattered light to moderate foxing concentrated near the upper corners and lower center, with mild overall yellowing of the paper. The image surface is stable with a faint spot visible within the right-hand frame; corners of the mount are lightly worn and a small pencil annotation is visible near the top left edge.
Reverse: Manuscript inscription in pencil, French, reading approximately: 'Emile Du[?]anche à son ami Edouard – Paris 9 avril 1857' / 'Calotype en 2 temps' / 'Vue de Paris rive droite prise de l'Hôtel de Ville [?]'. Several words are difficult to read with certainty due to faded pencil.
Keywords: France, Paris, calotype, stereoview, panorama
Photographer Biography:
No verified biographical information available.
Shipping Information: Shipping (worldwide): EUR 12 (registered). Shipping to the USA at risk of the buyer.