Gustave Le Gray (1820 - 1884)

Tirage albuminé d'un négatif verre au collodion humide, contrecollé sur carton original. Avec le facsimilé rouge de signature en bas à droite sur le tirage. Le carton porte dans la marge inférieure le tampon à sec oval du photographe 'Photographie Gustave Le Gray & Co Paris' et un timbre sec aux initiales 'EB' en haut à droite, et est annoté 4826 à l'encre en bas à gauche et C.6 en bas à droite.

Collection privée européenne

Eugenia Parry Janis, The Photography of Gustave Le Gray, Chicago/ London, The University of Chicago Press, 1987, ill. pl. 23 (dated here 1856/9);
Ken Jacobson, 'The lovely Sea-View..... Which all London is nor Wondering at'. A Study of the Marine Photographs published by Gustave le Gray, 1856-1858, Petches Bridge, Kenn & Jenny Jacobson, 2001, ill. p. 16;
Sylvie Aubenas, Gustave Le Gray, 1820 - 1884, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de france/Gallimard, 2002, ill. pp. 133 et 364.

The print has been cleaned professionally; a detailed report is available on request. In very good general condition. The tonality would be at 7-8 from a range of 10. There is a tiny indentation that does not crack the surface in the lower right corner at approx. 2 cm at left from the signature stamp, otherwise no scratches or indentations are visible. The surface shows faded original retouching mainly in the lower portion towards the center and in the upper right portion.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Ce tirage a été nettoyé professionellement. Un compte-rendu est à disposition au département.

"Et, en effet, la chance ou le coup de génie de Le Gray en 1856 est de s'attaquer à ce genre [de marines] dans une conjoncture parfaite. Il en fait l'illustration éclatante de son savoir-faire au collodion en grand format [...]. Mais au-delà de la prouesse technique [...] il va réaliser des œuvres d'art, réussir la transportation photogarphique d'un sujet traité depuis des siècles par les peintres flamands, hollandais, français et anglais, mais dans une manière qui l'apparente à Courbet et, plus tard, aux impressionistes." (Sylvie Aubenas, 'Boulevard des Capucines: la gloire de l'Empire', dans Gustave Le Gray. 1820-1884, cat. expo., Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, 2002, p.106)