Artwork
The Pyramids of Saqqara, from the Northeast
The Pyramids of Saqqara, from the Northeast is a photography by the Impressionist artist Francis Frith. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The 1858 photograph captures the Saqqara pyramids as seen from the northeast, presenting a clear, detailed view of the ancient structures.
About this work
The painting shows the pyramids of Saqqara from the northeast.
It's a photo from 1858, taken with a special process.
Francis Frith used the wet collodion process, which was new then.
He had to work in a specific way to get sharp images.
To learn more about this kind of photography, look up the technique of sfumato is not relevant here, instead consider the artist Francis Frith.
Overview
The 1858 photograph captures the Saqqara pyramids as seen from the northeast, presenting a clear, detailed view of the ancient structures. The image is a product of the wet collodion method, a photographic technique that was newly introduced at the time and allowed for unprecedented sharpness compared to earlier paper‑based processes.
Technique & Style
Francis Frith employed the wet collodious process, which required coating a glass plate with a light‑sensitive solution, exposing it while still wet, and developing it immediately. This demanding chemistry produced large‑format, high‑resolution negatives that could be printed as “mammoth” plates, yielding the photograph’s fine tonal range and crisp architectural detail.
Context
The Egyptian climate posed a severe challenge for the wet collodion method, as the chemicals needed to remain moist in intense heat. Frith often retreated to the cool darkness of tomb interiors to prepare and develop his plates, working by candlelight amid dust and the occasional disturbance of bats, a testament to his dedication to the craft.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francis Frith was an English photographer and businessman. Francis Frith & Co., the company he founded in 1860 with the initial goal of photographing every town and village in England, quickly became the largest…
