Harvard University (61) owns 43 spare pictures by Albert Levy. These are a not a set as in "Albert Levy's architectural photographic series" although we understand that many of those may have belong to different series. As most of the pictures are of monuments - instead of new building of the late XIX century - we think it deserves its own section on this web.
Architectes et photographes au xixe siècle
....L’usage essentiellement documentaire a fait de toutes ces photographies d’architecture des documents, et des documents souvent anonymes. On est parti de l’idée que si les photographies avaient été utilisées comme des documents, c’est qu’elles avaient été produites comme des documents. Autrement dit, le regard du photographe n’était pas une donnée à prendre en compte. Les photographies étaient censées rendre compte d’une réalité perçue comme objective. De l’usage on a déduit une intention. Cette équivalence ne fonctionne pas, comme vous le savez.
....les auteurs ont continué à être mis en valeur dans d’autres expositions qui ont eu lieu dans les années 1980-1990.
....Baldus, dont l’œuvre s’est nourrie de nombreuses commandes a été un formidable catalyseur pour rapprocher historiens de la photographie et historiens de l’architecture.
Le patrimoine de la Renaissance et la photographie comme outil entre inventaire et historiographie sous la Troisième République
C’est seulement plus tard dans le siècle, à partir des années 1870, que la photographie commence à intervenir dans la réalisation des premiers ouvrages consacrés à la lecture historique des monuments de la Renaissance. Les historiens de l’art et de l’architecture l’utilisent pourtant déjà en tant qu’outil d’étude, spécialement dans le domaine de l’histoire de l’architecture de la Renaissance et au-delà du contexte français.
En dépit de leur coût élevé, ce sont plutôt de véritables albums photographiques, avec clichés sur papier albuminé collés sur des planches précédées par un avant-propos et/ou des notices introductives, qui vont connaître une fortune conséquente dès les années 1850
Many pictures indicate at the bottom of the cardboard that they were sold at Albert Levy's shop in 4 Bond Street, New York. Others indicate 77 University Place New York. However, the most interesting ones are signed "Albert Levy" writen with a blindstamp on the image (not on the cardboard). These are pictures of monuments in Europe, so there were likely taken before moving to New York: these were made probably before 1873 (when he arrived to the United States). Also note that this kind of blindstamp on the picture was used in Europe in the 1860's and before. It was uncommon to find it after 1870. This fact reinforce the probably of the pictures with the blindstamps on the image being taken in the 1860's.
All pictures can be checked online here. See also pdf.
| List | Title | Image |
| 1 |
Musée Vleeshuis Place of Origin Antwerp, Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted on album leaves, Inscription: Blindstamp in image, "Albert Levy"; numbered in negative, "963"; in ink on front of mount, below image, "Old Boucherie, Belgium, Anvers"; in pencil in top right corner, "$300- Albert Levy, NYC" |
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| 2 |
Interior View of Louis XII Stairs, Chateau of Blois Place of Origin Blois, Loir-et-Cher, Centre, France Extent image 19 x 25 cm, mount 26 x 36 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted on album leaves, Inscription: Blindstamp in image, "Albert Levy"; numbered in negative, "1846"; in ink on front of mount, "Interior view of Louis XII Stairs, France, Chateau of Blois"; in pencil in different hand, "Albert Levy, Photog. Ca. 1870s, $200.00" |
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| 3 |
Details in the Chateau of Count of Poitou Extent image 20 x 25 cm, mount 28 x 35 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted on album leaves, Inscription: Blindstamp in image, "Albert Levy"; numbered in negative, "2081"; in ink on front of mount, below image, "Details in the Chateau of Count of Poitou, France, Poitiers"; in pencil in different hand, "Albert Levy, photog. Ca. 1870s, $200.00" |
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| 4 |
Place of Origin Trier, Trier, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany Extent image 19 x 25 cm, mount 28 x 35 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: Albumen prints, mounted on album leaves, Inscription: Blindstamp in image, "Albert Levy"; in ink on front of mount, "Porta Nigra, Germany, Trier" |
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| 5 |
Landreau coutelier 1699. La boutique devint la Coutellerie des Poëliers.2000. Extent image 24.2 x 19.5 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.6 cm
General note: Title devised., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York" |
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| 6 |
Extent image 24 x 19.5 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title devised., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York" |
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| 7 |
Extent image 19.6 x 24.2 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm
General note: Title devised., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York" |
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| 8 |
Porte d’entrée du Chateau du Langeais Extent image 24.2 x 19 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title devised., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York" |
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| 9 |
Le Château de Plessis-lès-Tours Extent image 24 x 19.2 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title devised., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"
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| 10 |
View of medieval architecture in Avignon Palais des Papes Extent image 24 x 19 cm, mount 36 x 28 cm General note: Title devised., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted on album leaves, Inscription: Blindstamp in image, "Albert Levy"; numbered in negative, "190"; in pencil on front of mount, in Horblit's hand, "Avignon" |
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| 11 |
Entrance of the Castle Place of Origin Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, France Levy, Albert, 1844-1907, French. Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, ÃŽle-de-France, France, 1870s-80s,
Extent image 24 x 19 cm, mount 36 x 28 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted on album leaves, Inscription: Blindstamp in image, "Albert Levy"; in pencil on front of mount, in Horblit's hand, "Fontainebleau" |
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| 12 |
Maisons rue de Paris Extent image 19.7 x 24.3 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm Notes General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "285"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten, "Old House, Vitré. Earliest part of XVI century"
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| 13 |
Loches: Hotel de Ville Porte Picois. France Extent image 24.2 x 20 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title devised., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in Horblit's hand, "Chs. 10/29/81 L/194" |
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| 14 |
Place of Origin New York, New York, United States Extent image 25 x 20 cm, mount 36 x 27 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: Albumen print, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "511"; blindstamp on front of mount, "Albert Levy, Architectural & Decorative Books, 77, University Place, 77, New York"; in pencil on back of mount, "Hotel Metropole, New York" |
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| 15 |
Church St. Radegonde Capital from Altar Place of Origin Poitiers, Vienne, Poitou-Charentes, France Extent image 19 x 25 cm, mount 28 x 35 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted on album leaves, Inscription: Blindstamp in image, "Albert Levy"; numbered in negative, "2069"; in ink on front of mount, below image, "Church St. Radegonde Capital from altar, France, Poitiers" |
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| 16 |
Place of Origin Loches, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 24.3 x 19.7 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm
General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "368"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten, "Donjon of Loches, Loches. X and XI centuries" |
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| 17 |
Place of Origin Orléans, Loiret, Centre, France Extent image 24.3 x 19.7 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "360"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten, "Museum of Orleans, Orleans. Late Gothic, end XV century." |
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| 18 |
Door of the "Chancellerie of Louis XI" Tours Place of Origin Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.6 x 24.3 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "352[359?]"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten, "Door of the 'Chancellerie de Louis XI' Tours. Early Renaissance XVI century" |
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| 19 |
Place of Origin Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 24 x 19.6 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "295"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten, "Details of windows, Tours. Early Renaissance, XVI century" |
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| 20 |
Tourelle Longueville Place of Origin Beaugency, Loiret, Centre, France Extent image 24.3 x 19.5 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm
General note: Title from inscription information., Process description: Albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "326"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Ancient Chateau Dunois, Beaugency. Late Gothic, end XV century" |
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| 21 |
Chateau of Chenonceaux - principal front Place of Origin Chenonceaux, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.5 x 24.3 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.3 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "367"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Chenonceaux, principal front, Chenonceaux. Renaissance XVI century." |
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| 22 |
Place of Origin Langeais, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 24.3 x 19.6 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "364"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Langeais, details, door, Langeais. Late Gothic, XV century." |
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| 23 |
House of Diane de Poitiers, rear view Place of Origin Orléans, Loiret, Centre, France Extent image 23.5 x 19.6 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "House of Diane de Poitiers, rear view, Orleans, Renaissance XVII century" |
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| 24 |
Place of Origin Amboise, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.8 x 24.3 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "293"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau d'Amboise, Amboise. Renaissance XVI century" |
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| 25 |
Chateau of Langeais, details, door Place of Origin Langeais, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 24.3 x 19.6 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "366"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Langeais, detail door, Langeais. Late Gothic XV century" |
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| 26 |
Château of Azay-le-Rideau, part of principal front Place of Origin Azay-le-Rideau, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 24.8 x 19.7 cm, mount 43 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: Albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "297"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau, part of principal front. Renaissance XVI century." |
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| 27 |
Hotel Pince, general view - Angers Place of Origin Angers, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France Extent image 24.4 x 19.5 cm, mount 43.1 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "256"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten, "Hotel Prince, general view, Angers. Renaissance XVI century" |
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| 28 |
Place of Origin Münster, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Extent image 25 x 20 cm, mount 36 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted on album leaves, Inscription: Blindstamp in image, "Albert Levy"; in ink on front of mount, "1046, Jewish Temple, Germany, Munster"; in pencil on back of mount, "286" |
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| 29 |
Place of Origin Hanover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany Extent image 25 x 20 cm, mount 36 x 28 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted on album leaves, Inscription: Blindstamp in image, "Albert Levy"; numbered in negative, "1079"; in ink on front of mount, below image, "Jewish Temple, Germany, Hanover"; in pencil on back of mount, "285" |
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| 30 |
Chateau of Chenonceaux - west front Place of Origin Chenonceaux, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.5 x 24 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "365"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten, "Chateau of Checonceaux, west front, Chenonceaux. Renaissance XVI century." |
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| 31 |
Entrance towers to Chateau of Loches Place of Origin Loches, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 24.2 x 19.5 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "238"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Entrance towers to Chateau of Loches, Loches." |
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| 32 |
Place of Origin Langeais, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.1 x 23.6 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "362"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Langeais, Langeais. Late Gothic, XV century." |
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| 33 |
Place of Origin Beaugency, Loiret, Centre, France Extent image 19.7 x 24.2 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription information., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "329"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Ancient Chateau Dunois, Beaugancy, Late Gothic." |
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| 34 |
View of a gate in Loches, France Place of Origin Loches, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 24.3 x 19.5 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title devised., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "46"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Porte des Cordeliers, Loches. Late Gothic, XV century" |
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| 35 |
Detail of dwelling house, Saumur Place of Origin Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France Extent image 24.4 x 19.8 cm, mount 43.1 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "243"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Detail of dwelling house, Saumur[?], Renaissance XVII century" |
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| 36 |
Chateau of Plessis-les-Tours, front view Place of Origin La Riche, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.6 x 24.2 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "292"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Plessis les Tours, front view. Late Gothic XV century" |
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| 37 |
Place of Origin Chenonceaux, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.5 x 24.2 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "373"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Chenonceaux[?], east front, Chenonceaux. Renaissance XVI century" |
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| 38 |
Chateau of Azay-Le-Rideau, rear view Place of Origin Azay-le-Rideau, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.3 x 23.8 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "236"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau, rear view, Azay-le-Rideau. Renaissance XVI century." |
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| 39 |
Old house called Maison d’Adam, general view Place of Origin Angers, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France Extent image 24.2 x 19.5 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.6 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "254"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Old house called Maison d'Adam, general view, Angers. Early Renaissance XVI century" |
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| 40 |
Place of Origin Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France Extent image 19.6 x 24.2 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "240"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "City Hall of Saumur. Details of court, Saumur. Late Gothic XV century" |
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| 41 |
Chateau of Azay-Le-Rideau, details of front doors Place of Origin Azay-le-Rideau, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.7 x 24.3 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.2 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "289"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau, details of front doors. Renaissance, XVI century." |
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| 42 |
Place of Origin Azay-le-Rideau, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 19.7 x 23.4 cm, mount 35.5 x 43.3 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "234"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau, side view. Renaissance, XVI century. [Crossed out: Old house called Maison d'Adam, general view, Saumur, Late Gothic XV century]" |
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| 43 |
Pavilion of the Chateau of Chenonceaux Place of Origin Chenonceaux, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France Extent image 24 x 19.6 cm, mount 43.2 x 35.5 cm General note: Title from inscription., Process description: One in a series of albumen prints, mounted, Inscription: Numbered in image, "71"; front of mount, printed, lower left corner, "Albert Levy, 4 Bond Street, New York"; handwritten in pencil, "[Pavilion] of the Chateau of Chenonceax, Chenonceaux. Renaissance XVI century" |
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