The Mediterranean Sea by Gustave Le Gray


07/01/2021

A group of beautiful old photographs from an estate in Touraine, one of the traditional departments of France, will be auctioned off, starting with proofs by Gustave Le Gray.



by Claire Papon

Gustave Le Gray (1820–1884), La Mer Méditerranée à Cette [Sète] (The Mediterranean Sea at Cette [Sète]), 1857, albumin print, red signature stamp and dry stamp on the mount, label with the title, 32.1 x 41.7 cm/12.64 x 16.42 in. Estimate: €15,000/20,000
Photography pioneer Gustave Le Gray (1820-1884) was one of the first—if not the first—to treat the new medium as an art form. His light and framing have the sensibility of a genuine artist. This should come as no surprise: in 1842 Le Gray trained as a painter in Paul Delaroche’s Paris Beaux-Arts studio. He followed in his teacher’s footsteps by traveling to Italy but quickly embraced photography ... read more