Beschreibung:

France - Pierrefonds] - MIEUSEMENT, Séraphin-Médéric - Les châteaux historiques. Pierrefonds après la restauration de M. Viollet-le-Duc . Paris, Ducher & Cie, 1875, large folio, editor's half leather (sl. rubbed), marbled paper on covers, gilt titled spine on 5 raised bands, 12 orig. albumen prints of various sizes, mounted on board (foxing & staining on boards).
Beginning in 1872, Mieusement (1840-1905) photographed France's historic buildings, monuments and important architecture to create an encompassing documentation of architectural restoration projects. The present rare album depicts the Castle of Pierrefonds, the favorite restoration project of Napoleon III, who wanted to make there his imperial residence. Rather than basing his work on the strict history of the building, Viollet-le-Duc produced more a work of invention than restoration. Ref. M. Nilsen, Architecture in Ninetheenth Century Photographs: Essays on reading a collection. p.186.