Auction: A Historic Photographic Grand Tour - Important Daguerreotypes

[Michael Wong]

Christie's will be auctioning off an exclusive private collection of 74 daguerreotype photographs by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey in New York next month. Entitled "A Historic Photographic Grand Tour - Important Daguerreotypes by Philibert Girault de Prangey", it is expected to fetch in excess of $2 million, when they are put under the hammer on 7th October.

For decades, the name of Girault de Prangey had been a source of intrigue to scholars and collectors of early photography. A naturally gifted artist, he soon became one of the earliest masters of the medium. He also took part in the Grand Tour throughout Greece and Italy along with other 18th and 19th century artists and intellectuals.

The full sale catalogue can be found here.

Photo: Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, Rome. T. de la concorde. Ent. Inter., 1842. Daguerreotype. Estimate: $45,000-65,000. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2010.