Bernard J Shapero R are Books

156BEATO, Felice.The Wall of Peking.[c.1860]. Albumen print. Very good tonal range andin good condition, Dimensions: Three 250 by 300mm.(9.5 by 11.5 inches).Felice Beato is one of the most famousand widely travelled of nineteenthcentury photographers. His views ofConstantinople with his brother-in-lawJames Robertson and later work fromthe Indian Subcontinent and the Far Eastsurpassed many of his contemporariesin quality and content. As part ofBritain’s quest to expand access to theChinese markets through the openingof additional seaports, Beato was hiredas a commercial photographer to theBritish Expeditionary force. Whether hewas sent from India to cover the eventor if it was an adventure specificallydriven by financial gain is unsure. Whatwe do know is that Beato had patronagefrom the highest levels of the militaryand government. His limited number ofphotographs from the Second OpiumWar were usually put together asalbums, sold to military figures or givenas presentation albums. Today survivingphotographic albums and single printsfrom the Second Opium War set arevery rare, especially in the conditionshown here.ref: 72698 £5,750118 Early Travel Photography 1850 - 1950Bernard J Shapero Rare Books