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Art Institute of Chicago

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Francis Frith — Pharoah's Bed, Philæ, from the Great Temple
Francis Frith

Pharoah's Bed, Philæ, from the Great Temple

1857

Among the first photographs ever taken of the famous Philae temple complex, the image demonstrates Frith's mastery of the albumen process in challenging desert conditions. The composition frames the ancient Egyptian monument with remarkable clarity, preserving architectural details that would later be submerged by the Aswan Dam.

Medium
Albumen print, pl. 7 from the album "Egypt and Palestine, Volume II" (1858/60)

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About this work

Francis Frith, Pharoah's Bed, Philæ, from the Great Temple, 1857

Among the first photographs ever taken of the famous Philae temple complex, the image demonstrates Frith's mastery of the albumen process in challenging desert conditions. The composition frames the ancient Egyptian monument with remarkable clarity, preserving architectural details that would later be submerged by the Aswan Dam.

Medium
Albumen print, pl. 7 from the album "Egypt and Palestine, Volume II" (1858/60)
Year
1857
Seen at
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Related themes

Monochrome, Photography, Albumen Print, Archaeological, 19th Century, Egypt, Landscape, Travel, British, Architecture

More works by Francis Frith

Collected by

Art Institute of Chicago, Cleveland Museum of Art