Louis-Remy Robert 1810-1882
La Gouvernante Manufacture De Sevres (positive), 1850
salt print from a waxed paper negative
28.4 x 22 cms
11 2/16 x 8 10/16 ins
11 2/16 x 8 10/16 ins
13709
This important picture of the Governess at the Sevres porcelain factory by Louis Remy Robert is one of his most impressive portraits. The important status of this particular work derives...
This important picture of the Governess at the Sevres porcelain factory by Louis Remy Robert is one of his most impressive portraits.
The important status of this particular work derives from its reproduction in the very first major book on the history of photography, Raymond Lecuyer's 'Histoire de la photographie', Paris, Baschet et Cie, 1945. In the book it is prominently featured. It is paired with the corresponding paper negative, which is specially reproduced so that one can see through the negative.
There are many known negatives by Robert, mainly of rural scenes, but his most celebrated works include his portraits. While many of his beautiful paper negatives survive, his prints are comparatively rare. Matching positive and negative pairs are particualrly rare and valuable.
Robert grew up at the Royal Porcelain Factory in Sèvres, on the outskirts of Paris. His father was head of the glass painting atelier, a position he later assumed himself. The village and it's countryside attracted artists, including Robert, who began experimenting with paper print photography around 1850, which is around the time this portrait was made.
In 1852 the well-known chemist and pioneering photographer Regnault became director of the factory and the two men inspired each other's work.
Robert's pioneering work concentrated on portraits of friends and family, still life's of the products from the factory and landscape and architectural studies.
The important status of this particular work derives from its reproduction in the very first major book on the history of photography, Raymond Lecuyer's 'Histoire de la photographie', Paris, Baschet et Cie, 1945. In the book it is prominently featured. It is paired with the corresponding paper negative, which is specially reproduced so that one can see through the negative.
There are many known negatives by Robert, mainly of rural scenes, but his most celebrated works include his portraits. While many of his beautiful paper negatives survive, his prints are comparatively rare. Matching positive and negative pairs are particualrly rare and valuable.
Robert grew up at the Royal Porcelain Factory in Sèvres, on the outskirts of Paris. His father was head of the glass painting atelier, a position he later assumed himself. The village and it's countryside attracted artists, including Robert, who began experimenting with paper print photography around 1850, which is around the time this portrait was made.
In 1852 the well-known chemist and pioneering photographer Regnault became director of the factory and the two men inspired each other's work.
Robert's pioneering work concentrated on portraits of friends and family, still life's of the products from the factory and landscape and architectural studies.