Beschreibung:

68 5365 Bonfils F 1831 1885 68/5365 Bonfils, F. (1831-1885). (Temple of Jupiter Baalberg). (Oriental streetscene). Two albumen prints, ±1870, both ±28x22,5 cm., both signed "Bonfils" and "129"/ "183" in the plate, both laid down on (soiled) mount with 2 other anonymous albumen prints mounted on verso. = Perez p.141; Boom/ Rooseboom p.186f: "That same year [1869] saw the opening of the Suez Canal, which provided access to the East. These travellers did not attempt to record the monuments and other sights of interest encountered along the way, let alone their personal experiences. They preferred to leave the laborious task of photographing the sights and monuments to professionals recommended by the Baedeker or the Guide Bleu. And even without these guides, travellers had no trouble finding photos of the local highlights. There was James Anderson in Rome, Carlo Ponti in Venice, Wilhelm Hammerschmidt in Cairo and Félix Bonfils in Beirut (...). From the sixties on, they settled in and around those spots which held the greatest appeal for tourists." Félix Bonfils established himself in Lebanon ±1867-1881.