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Mont Blanc

Photograph
ca. 1861-1862 (made)
Artist/Maker
Bisson Frères (photographers)
Place of origin
France (made)

Photograph, albumen print from wet collodion negative, stamped on mount 'Bisson frères' and showing a view of Mont Blanc.

Object details

Category
Photographs
Object type
Photograph
TitleMont Blanc (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Albumen print from wet collodion negative, painted with a wash of Indian ink and bathed in chloride of gold
Photographic Paper
Albumen
India Ink
Collodion
Photography
Wash Technique
Wet Collodion Process
Brief description
Photograph (albumen print), showing Mont Blanc, by Bisson Frères, France, ca. 1861-1862.
Physical description
Photograph, albumen print from wet collodion negative, stamped on mount 'Bisson frères' and showing a view of Mont Blanc.
Marks and inscriptions
'Bisson frères' (stamped on mount)
Gallery label
(1987-2006)
'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900'

Louis Auguste Bisson (1814-1876) was trained as an architect, his brother Auguste-Rosalie Bisson was an amateur heraldic painter (the profession of their father) before they began their photographic partnership in 1840. A.-R. Bisson was the first photographer to ascend Mont Blanc. His views of 1861 and 1862 were greatly admired. The sky tone was achieved by painting on the negative with a wash of Indian ink; the print's purple cast is due to the bath of chloride of gold used to enhance the tonal values and permanence of the print.
Credit line
Given by Colonel Willoughby Wallace C.M.G.
Object history
This photograph is part of a set collected by Canon Wallace of Bristol in the 1870's and 1880's, and presented to the museum in 1918 by Colonel Willoughby Wallace, his brother.
Historical context
Louis Auguste Bisson (1814-1876) was trained as an architect, his brother Auguste-Rosalie Bisson was an amateur heraldic painter (the profession of their father) before they began their photographic partnership in 1840. A.-R. Bisson was the first photographer to ascend Mont Blanc. His views of 1861 and 1862 were greatly admired.
Place depicted
Mont Blanc
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
796-1918

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Record createdJune 6, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O124904/mont-blanc-photograph-bisson-frères/
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