Louis Alphonse de Brébisson

potassium-fixed paper negative, framed, the Buhl Collection label on the reverse, circa 1849

Marc Pagneaux, Paris
Charles Isaacs, Inc., Malvern, Pennsylvania, 1999

This is a lovely, delicate negative that has remained in good condition. The image possesses a great deal of detail: elements of the gentlemen's clothing are crisply rendered, as is the human skull that sits, amongst books, on the table at the right. The image is on thin, nearly translucent paper. The edges appear to have been trimmed by hand. The dark portions of this negative image are a dark brown; the highlights have a creamy-gold tonality. There is a 2-inch crease in the lower right corner, but this does not detract in a measurable way from the appearance of this fascinating early photograph.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

De Brebisson was a botanist who became involved with the new science of photography in its first decade.  As early as 1841, he published on daguerreotypie.  He then began making paper negatives, such as the one offered here, and developed a proprietary process which he published in 1848; later he explored the possibilities of negatives made with albumen on glass.  He was a founding member of the Société Française de Photographie.