Albert Fernique - Chantier de reconstruction de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris – Les Fondations.
07
days
04
hours
04
minutes
10
seconds
 | €1 |
|---|
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 145304 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Albert Fernique’s unsigned 1873 albumen print, titled “Chantier de reconstruction de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris – Les Fondations”, documents the foundations of Paris City Hall.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Identity of the Work
• Artist: Albert Fernique (1841–1898), architectural photographer, engineer and French pioneer of industrial documentation.
• Attributed Title: Reconstruction site of the Paris City Hall – The Foundations.
• Date of creation: 1873 (start of excavation work).
• Technique: 19th-century photographic print on albumen paper.
• Support: Original mount on heavy cardboard, with built-in mat.
Visual and Documentary Analysis
• Subject: The image documents the monumental reconstruction effort of Paris in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War and the fires of the Paris Commune (May 1871). The photograph captures the scale of the excavation pit, the coexistence between manual labor (shovels, earthmoving) and technical structures (scaffolding, wooden shoring, lifting machinery).
• Composition: A downward-looking perspective emphasizes the depth of the site and the multitude of workers in action. The background reveals portions of the façades of the Hôtel de Ville that survived the fire, serving as an architectural witness to the transition between destruction and rebirth.
Traceability, Marks and Provenance
The careful examination of the support reveals the material and commercial history of this print:
• On the recto (handwritten inscriptions in pencil):
• Number “19”: Old auction lot number or collection inventory reference.
• Note “63 + 55”: Framing technical note (dimensions) or internal gallery pricing code.
• Number “15”: Classification of the item within a series or documentary portfolio.
• On the verso (Commercial mark):
• Label of A. Gentil: Art framer, gilding and bookbinding craftsman based at 1, Rue du Bellay & Quai Bourbon (Île Saint-Louis, Paris). The typographic style anchors the framing to the late 19th century – early 20th century.
• White chalk mark: Marker for reference or storage in the framing workshop.
The albumen print preserves good legibility despite yellowing and attenuation of natural contrasts due to silver oxidation and egg-white proteins (components of albumen). The original mounting cardboard shows physical alterations.
Identity of the Work
• Artist: Albert Fernique (1841–1898), architectural photographer, engineer and French pioneer of industrial documentation.
• Attributed Title: Reconstruction site of the Paris City Hall – The Foundations.
• Date of creation: 1873 (start of excavation work).
• Technique: 19th-century photographic print on albumen paper.
• Support: Original mount on heavy cardboard, with built-in mat.
Visual and Documentary Analysis
• Subject: The image documents the monumental reconstruction effort of Paris in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War and the fires of the Paris Commune (May 1871). The photograph captures the scale of the excavation pit, the coexistence between manual labor (shovels, earthmoving) and technical structures (scaffolding, wooden shoring, lifting machinery).
• Composition: A downward-looking perspective emphasizes the depth of the site and the multitude of workers in action. The background reveals portions of the façades of the Hôtel de Ville that survived the fire, serving as an architectural witness to the transition between destruction and rebirth.
Traceability, Marks and Provenance
The careful examination of the support reveals the material and commercial history of this print:
• On the recto (handwritten inscriptions in pencil):
• Number “19”: Old auction lot number or collection inventory reference.
• Note “63 + 55”: Framing technical note (dimensions) or internal gallery pricing code.
• Number “15”: Classification of the item within a series or documentary portfolio.
• On the verso (Commercial mark):
• Label of A. Gentil: Art framer, gilding and bookbinding craftsman based at 1, Rue du Bellay & Quai Bourbon (Île Saint-Louis, Paris). The typographic style anchors the framing to the late 19th century – early 20th century.
• White chalk mark: Marker for reference or storage in the framing workshop.
The albumen print preserves good legibility despite yellowing and attenuation of natural contrasts due to silver oxidation and egg-white proteins (components of albumen). The original mounting cardboard shows physical alterations.
Details
Date of print
1873
Artist
Albert Fernique
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Title of artwork
Chantier de reconstruction de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris – Les Fondations.
Condition
Good condition
Technique
Albumen paper process
Height
38.6 cm
Width
28.7 cm
Signature
Not signed
Genre
Documentary photography
Sold by
