A stereoview documenting El Escorial, the royal monastery-palace complex near Madrid, photographed from an elevated vantage point identified on the mount as "pris de la Montagne" (taken from the mountain). The sprawling granite building, with its domed basilica flanked by twin bell towers, dominates the middle ground, while the foreground shows the rooftops and stone boundary walls of the adjacent village and an expanse of open, rocky terrain. The composition places the monumental structure at a distance, emphasizing its scale relative to the surrounding settlement and landscape.
The printed tab reading "ESPAGNE" on the mount and the numbered caption slip on the verso are consistent with commercial French stereoview production of Spanish views intended for a touring or armchair-travel market of the period; no photographer or publisher imprint is present to allow further attribution.
Photographer/publisher: Unknown
Period/date: circa 1858/60
Dimensions: 175 x 85 mm
Condition: Good; the albumen print shows overall warm sepia toning and some fading consistent with age, with scattered small foxing spots and a faint vertical density line between the paired images. The mount exhibits light edge and corner wear, minor surface soiling, and a small chip at the upper left corner. The print remains stable and is not brittle.
Reverse: Printed caption label affixed to grey mount, reading: "N° 51 / l'Escurial / pris de la Montagne près Madrid." No publisher imprint or additional handwriting present.
Keywords: Spain, El Escorial, stereoview, albumen print, San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Photographer Biography:
No verified biographical information available.
Shipping Information: Shipping (worldwide): EUR 12 (registered). Shipping to the USA at risk of the buyer.