Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey facts for kids
Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey (born October 21, 1804 – died December 7, 1892) was a French scholar and artist. He was one of the very first people to use photography. He took amazing photos while exploring old buildings and places in the Middle East.
His special photos, called daguerreotypes, are the oldest surviving pictures from places like Greece, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey. After he passed away in 1892, his hidden photos were found in his attic in the 1920s. But it took another 80 years for people to realize how important they were!
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An Early Photographer's Journey
Girault de Prangey was a rich scholar who studied painting in Paris. He loved history and old buildings. He learned how to make daguerreotypes, which was a new way to take photos back then. He might have even learned from the inventor himself, Louis Daguerre.
He was very interested in the buildings of the Middle East. His drawings and paintings always showed great detail, especially in architecture. He quickly realized that photography could help him be even more accurate in his artwork.
Travels and Discoveries
Between 1841 and 1844, he went on a big trip. He visited Italy and countries in the eastern Mediterranean. During this journey, he took over 900 daguerreotypes. These photos showed old buildings, beautiful landscapes, and even portraits of people he met.
After returning to France, he used his photos to create watercolour and pen-and-ink drawings. He even published a small book with pictures made from his photographs. However, not many people bought the book, so he stopped publishing his art.
Hidden Treasures
Girault de Prangey then focused on his large estate and collecting interesting plants. He even took more photos, called stereographs, of his estate and plants. During his lifetime, photography was not seen as a true art form. It was mostly just a tool.
Because of this, he didn't try to make his photographs famous. After using them for his artwork, he simply stored them away in wooden boxes in his attic. They stayed hidden for many years.
His Lasting Impact
Once people finally discovered how important his photographs were, they became very valuable. In May 2003, a daguerreotype by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey was bought for a world-record price of over $922,000! This showed how much his work was appreciated.
In 2019, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City held a special show called "Monumental Journey: The Daguerreotypes of Girault de Prangey." About 120 of his photos were displayed. These included famous places like the Parthenon in Athens, the Khayrbak Mosque in Cairo, and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. It was the first big exhibition in America just for his amazing early photographs.
