Artist Index: Laurent, Jean and Others

Views of Spain. 1865-70s. 37 albumen prints. Various sizes between circa 23 x 34 cm and 16 x 22 cm, a few 11 x 15 cm. Many with number, title and photographer's name in the negative in lower edge, mounted to board (soiled).

Jean Laurent opened a daguerreotype studio in Paris under the name Laurent & Company in 1843. Around 1857, he relocated to Spain and established a studio in Madrid, where he became one of the most influential photographers of 19th-century Spain and Portugal. His prolific output covered a wide range of subjects, including cityscapes, architecture, historic monuments, Old Master paintings, and portraits of people from all social classes. This comprehensive collection includes three fold-out panoramic views of Cartagena, San Sebastián (each approx. 24 × 102 cm), and Burgos (24 × 69 cm), as well as individual views of Murcia, Orihuela, Elche-Alicante, Ronda, Gibraltar, Seville, Córdoba, Toledo, Aranjuez, El Escorial, Madrid, and Cádiz. One photograph bears the stamp of Francisco Rocchini (1822-1895) on the mount. – Most with fading in edges, some with light foxing, some handling creases, some with stronger creases, otherwise in good condition, several with strong contrasts.