Artist Index: Greene, John Beasley

Isis Temple, Isle of Philae, Egypt. Circa 1853-1854. Salted paper print. 22,7 x 29,4 cm (46 x 56,2 cm). Signed and numbered in the negative in lower margin, hinge-mounted to board

A leading figure in 19th-century photography, John Beasley Greene was one of the earliest archaeological documentary photographers. As a trained Egyptologist and an early practitioner of photography, Greene approached his work with a rigorous scientific methodology, using the camera to document ancient sites with remarkable precision. His photographs, often characterized by their spare, almost minimalist compositions, reflect a modern sensibility unusual for his time, emphasizing geometric forms, light, and shadow rather than merely serving as visual records. – Some smudge marks, some very light fading along edges of print, otherwise a strong tonal print in very good condition.

Mountain and Temple of Gerf Hussein, Egypt. Circa 1853/54. Salted paper print mounted to board. 23,4 x 29,7 cm (40 x 56,7 cm). Signed and numbered in the negative on lower margin, annotated in pencil on the mount below the image.

Some smudge marks, some very light fading along edges of print, otherwise a strong tonal print in very good condition.