Gustave Le Gray (1820-1884) Lot n° 65

The Road to Chailly, Cloudy Sky, 1852-1856 Albumen print, from both a paper and a glass negative, 258x363 mm, strong tonality. In 1856, Gustave Le Gray set up an elegant studio at 35, Bd des Capucines, with the financial support of Barnabé Malbec de Montjoc, Marquis de Briges. The studio then became famous with his sea views. Le Gray also produced spectacular albumen prints, like this one, from early works. The 1852 Fontainebleau paper negatives were improved adding clouds from various glass negatives (Cf. Sylvie Aubenas & alii, Gustave Le Gray, BNF, notices 67-68). On April 17th 1857, Barnabé Malbec de Montjoc passed away, his son Albert cut any financial support, claiming money back from the photographic studio, getting Le Gray in dispear and bankruptcy. The Boulevard des Capucines establishment was auctioned, with only one bidder, called Malbec de Montjoc