Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case x, Shelf 440

Steps to the main facade, January 1867

Photograph
January 1867 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The new Opéra in Paris was designed by Charles Garnier and constructed between 1861 and 1875. Its highly decorated Neo-Baroque style perfectly reflected the confidence and grandeur typical of Parisian architecture at this time. Louis-Emile Durandelle specialised in photographs of construction and industry during this period of intense activity in Paris. This photograph is one of a series that conveys the monumental task and manual effort involved in constructing the Opéra.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Steps to the main facade, January 1867 (alternative title)
  • Construction of the Paris Opéra (series title)
  • Perron de la façade principale, janvier 1867 (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Albumen print from collodion negative
Brief description
Photograph by Delmaet and Durandelle, 'Perron de la façade principale, janvier 1867' [Steps to the main facade, January 1867], 1 of 47 photographs recording the construction and decoration of the Palais Garnier, albumen print from collodion negative, Paris, 1867
Physical description
Photograph of construction work on Paris Opéra House.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 277mm
  • Image width: 393cm
  • Sheet height: 378mm
  • Sheet width: 493mm
Style
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
'Photographie de Delmaet & Durandelle, 22, Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, Portraits et reproductions' (Stamped)
Gallery label
The New Paris Opéra was designed by Charles Garnier and constructed between 1861 and 1874. Its highly decorated Neo-Baroque style perfectly reflected the confidence and grandeur expected of architecture in Paris at this time. Durandelle specialised in photographs of construction and industry during this period of intense activity in Paris. These photographs are part of a series that conveys the monumental task and manual effort involved in constructing the building.(22/09/2004)
Object history
Louis-Emile Durandelle photographed the stages of construction of the new opera house in Paris. The Opéra was designed by Charles Garnier and built between 1861 and 1874. Durandelle’s series of images show the façade as a whole, the stone masons at work and studies of their decorative chisel-work.
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
The new Opéra in Paris was designed by Charles Garnier and constructed between 1861 and 1875. Its highly decorated Neo-Baroque style perfectly reflected the confidence and grandeur typical of Parisian architecture at this time. Louis-Emile Durandelle specialised in photographs of construction and industry during this period of intense activity in Paris. This photograph is one of a series that conveys the monumental task and manual effort involved in constructing the Opéra.
Bibliographic references
  • Desjours, Jean. Le grand oeuvre: photographies des grands travaux: 1860-1900. Paris: Centre national de la photographie, 1984.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints, Drawings and Paintings Accession Register for 1990
Collection
Accession number
E.2349-1990

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 8, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest