Eugène Cuvelier 1837-1900

The collection of John Chandler Bancroft, Middletown, Rhode Island

Gustave J. S. White Co., Auctioneers, Newport, Rhode Island, 1989

Acquired from the above by a New England antiques dealer

To the present owners, 1989

Cuvelier made this panoramic view of the sand dunes of Macherin, at the western edge of Fontainebleau, by carefully joining two prints made from separate negatives onto a mount.  The idea behind such a panorama is simply stated: once the first view of a scene is made, the photographer then moves the camera slightly to photograph the adjoining terrain.  In practice, however, there are numerous difficulties to contend with, the chief one being the accurate registration of the first picture with the second.   Printing two images from separate negatives that were identical in tonal values and color also would have presented a challenge.  The seamless joining of the two prints in the present image, and their unified tonality, attest to Cuvelier's mastery of the technical aspects of photography. 

Panoramic views are rare within Cuvelier's body of work.  Gauss does not account for this image, and lists only two other panoramas: 'Franchard - Mare au Pigeons' (IV/1) and 'Franchard - 20 8bre 1863' (V/5).