Image: Parthenon 1839

Description: Engraving of the first photograph of the Parthenon. Daguerreotype photograph taken by Pierre-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière in October, 1839. Engraved by Frédéric Martens. Published in Excursions daguerriennes by Noël Paymal Lerebours in 1841. Excerpts from the accompanying text, written by Pierre-Gustave Joly, published in Excursions daguerriennes (this text is in the public domain, like the image): "This view was taken in the autumn of 1839 ; I mention it, because it is the first time that the image of the Parthenon is fixed on a plate by the ingenious method of Daguerre, and because each year could bring new changes to the look of those famous ruins: a catastrophe could collapse them tomorrow, or a friendly and generous hand could raise those marbles scattered on the ground, and restore into an imposing whole what was the most beautiful of temples. [...] A mosque occupies a part of the interior, it is now used to store the precious debris found during the excavations of the Acropolis. Once, there had been a gunpowder magazine on the same spot, it caused, when it exploded, the collapse of a large part of the temple. On the columns, many white spots can be seen, they are chips of marble removed by bullets and cannonballs during the last war."
Title: Parthenon 1839
Credit: Uploaded by Mireime
Author: Photographer: Pierre-Gustave Joly (1798-1865) Engraver: Frédéric Martens (1806-1885)
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No