Finding aid for Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite, approximately 1861-1880 2000.R.25
Beth Ann Guynn
Special Collections
2017
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu
Contributing Institution: Special Collections
Title: Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite
Creator: Desmaisons, Emilien, 1812-1880
Identifier/Call Number: 2000.R.25
Physical Description: 0.5 Linear Feet(1 album)
Date (inclusive): between 1861 and 1880
Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
catalog record for this collection. Click here for the
access policy .
Abstract: The album of cartes-de-visite by mostly unidentified photographers, assembled during the time of the French intervention in
Mexico by an unknown person, contains photographs of Pre-Columbian related statuary; portraits of 19th-century Mexican presidents,
military, and political figures; studio portraits of indigenous people, street vendors, and other professions; portraits of
figures associated with the French in Mexico; portraits of Napoleon III and family; and portraits of the compiler's family
and friends.
Language of Material: Collection is in French.
Preferred Citation
Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite, approximately 1861-1880, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession
no. 2000.R.25.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2000r25
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in a single series: Series I: Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite, approximately 1861-1880.
Biographical / Historical
The unidentified compiler of the album was likely someone who served in or was associated with the French army in Mexico during
the period known as the French intervention in Mexico (1861-1867) when the French invaded and ruled Mexico, establishing
Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, as Emperor of Mexico.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Digitzed Material
The collection was digitized in 2010 and the images are available online:
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2000r25
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired in 2000.
Processing Information
The finding aid was initally written by Beth Ann Guynn in 2017 and encoded by Linda Kleiger. Guynn updated the finding aid
in 2021.
Scope and Contents
The album of cartes-de-visite by mostly unidentified photographers (due in part to the fact that the versos of the cartes
are not visible) appears to have been assembled by someone who likely served in or was associated with the French army in
Mexico during the period known as the French intervention in Mexico (1861-1867) when the French invaded and ruled Mexico,
establishing Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, as Emperor of Mexico. Included are 45 cartes-de-visite and one calling card.
The following groups of images are present: photographs of pre-Columbian related statuary (5); portraits of 19th-century Mexican
presidents, military, and political figures (8); occupational portraits depicting various types of Mexican street vendors
and professions, many of whom are indigenous persons (20); portraits of figures associated with the French in Mexico, including
generals Ignacio Zaragoza and Jesús Ortega, known for their leadership in the defense of Puebla, and General Tomás Mejía,
whose alignment with the French caused him to be executed with Maximillian (5); portraits of Napoleon III and family (3);
and unidentified portraits, including some who appear to be family and friends of the album compiler (4).
Seven of the images are photographs of prints or drawings; others are second or third generation copy photographs from original
cartes-de-visite, attesting to the popularity and wide dissemination of the Mexican images at the time the album was assembled.
The album has pebbled brown leather covers with a chased brass clasp. The covers and spine are embossed with a gothic design
in high relief. The openings of the carte-de-viste mounts are surrounded by a gilt-stamped design with the initials J. H.
centered below the design; four openings are empty. French captions are handwritten on many of the mounts in brown ink above
and beneath the images; these captions have been used as image titles. Consequently, some titles may include language now
considered to be racist or biased. Spelling can also be archaic. For example, througout the album "aztèques" is spelled "astèques."
The three photographs of the French imperial family are by Émile Desmaisons. They are all blindstamped in the photograph:
E. D. The photographer's imprint is visible on one verso: E. Desmaisons, 5 rue des Grands Augustins, Paris. Copyright secured
for England. One photograph is signed in the negative: E. Desmaisons, DEL.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cartes-de-visite -- Mexico -- 19th century
Photograph albums -- Mexico -- 19th century
Albumen prints -- Mexico -- 19th century
Studio portraits -- Mexico -- 19th century
Photographs, Original
Generals -- Mexico -- Portraits
Mexico -- Antiquities
Indians of Mexico -- Portraits
Occupations -- Mexico
Mexico -- History -- European Intervention, 1861-1867
Napoleon, Emperor of the French, III, 1808-1873 -- Portraits
González Ortega, Jesús, 1822-1881 -- Portraits
Mejía, Tomás, 1820-1867 -- Portraits
Zaragoza, Ignacio, 1829-1862 -- Portraits
Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite,
between 1861 and 1880
Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite (digitized version)
Arrangement
In original order.
box 1, page 1 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Dieu des astèques. (Anciens mexicains) 2000.R.25-1r
Scope and Contents
Statuette of a female goddess with her arm resting on an eagle and with a bow, quiver, spear and shield resting on her lower
body and the base.
box 1, page 1 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Idoles astèques 2000.R.25-1v
Scope and Contents
Three small terracotta figures.
box 1, page 2 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Idoles astèques 2000.R.25-2r
Scope and Contents
Three small terracotta figures.
box 1, page 2 verso
Photographer unknown, Charnay, Desiré (?), Mexique. Calendrier astèque 2000.R.25-2v
Scope and Contents
Numbered in negative, upper left corner: 7. Copy photograph after Charnay?
box 1, page 3 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Princesse astèque 2000.R.25-3r
Scope and Contents
Statuette of a woman holding a bow and shield.
box 1, page 3 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Le curé Hidalgo, qui leva l'etendard de la révolte en 1811, contre les Espagnols 2000.R.25-3v
Scope and Contents
Reproduces a portrait of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 92.R.8.
box 1, page 4 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Sant Anna. Ex président 2000.R.25-4r
Scope and Contents
Portrait of Antonio López de Santa Anna. For another copy of this image see Special Collections accession no. 92.R.8-19r.4.
box 1, page 4 veso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Comontfort [sic]. Ex président 2000.R.25-4v
Scope and Contents
Portrait of Ignacio Comonfort. For another copy of this image see Special Collections accession no. 92.R.8-5r.4.
box 1, page 5 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Juarès. Ex président 2000.R.25-5r
Scope and Contents
Portrait of Benito Juárez. Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 5 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Le général Sarragoza, défenseur de Puebla le 5 Mai 1862 2000.R.25-5v
Scope and Contents
Portrait of Ignacio Zaragoza.
box 1, page 6 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Le général Ortéga. Défenseur de Puebla en 1863 2000.R.25-6r
Scope and Contents
Portrait of Jesús González Ortega.
box 1, page 6 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Le général Méjia, 1866 2000.R.25-6v
Scope and Contents
Portrait of Tomás Mejía.
box 1, page 7 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Doblado, gouverneur de l'état de Guanajuato. Ex ministre 2000.R.25-7r
Scope and Contents
Portrait of Manuel Doblado Partida.
box 1, page 7 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Tortilleras, ou fabricantes de tortilles (galettes de maïs) 2000.R.25-7v
box 1, page 8 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Soldats 2000.R.25-8r
box 1, page 8 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Indiennes. Marchandes de fleurs 2000.R.25-8v
Scope and Contents
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 9 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Marchand de bananes et autres fruits 2000.R.25-9r
Scope and Contents
Photograph of a clay(?) and cloth figurine.
box 1, page 9 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexicaine de la classe moyenne 2002.R.25-9v
box 1, page 10 recto
Photographer unknown, Aguador ou porteur d'eau de Mexico 2000.R.25-10r
Scope and Contents
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 10 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Marchande de poires cuites 2000.R.25-10v
Scope and Contents
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 11 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Marchand de volailles. Indien 2000.R.25-11r
Scope and Contents
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 11 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Pulquéro, ou extracteur du pulqué (boisson nationale) 2000.R.25-11v
box 1, page 12 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Charbonnière indienne 2000.R.25-12r
box 1, page 12 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Carnicéro – ou boucher 2000.R.25-12v
Scope and Contents
The carte-de-visite depicts a seated indigenous boy leaning against a large clay vessel. The caption may be incorrect.
box 1, page 13 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Floréra ou fleuriste 2000.R.25-13r
box 1, page 13 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Cavalier civil 2000.R.25-13v
Scope and Contents
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 14 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Cestéro, ou fabricant de paniers 2000.R.25-14r
box 1, page 14 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Servante 2000.R.25-14v
box 1, page 15 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Petits indiens 2000.R.25-15v
box 1, page 16 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Jeune indienne 2000.R.25-16r
box 1, page 16 verso
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Ollero, ou marchand de poterie 2000.R.25-16v
box 1, page 17 recto
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Maçon 2000.R.25-17r
box 1, page 17 verso
Photographer unknown, [Male Head] 2000.R.25-17v
Scope and Contents
Portrait of Marat? Photograph after an etching.
box 1, page 18 recto
Photographer unknown, [Portrait of a Three-quarter-length Standing Male Figure] 2000.R.25-18r
Scope and Contents
Pencil annotation on mount: Cambery. Photograph of an etching.
box 1, page 18 verso
Photographer unknown, [Jean-Marie Roland de la Platière] 2000.R.25-18v
Scope and Contents
Pencil annotation on mount: Roland. Photograph of an etching.
box 1, page 19 recto
Photographer unknown, Necker 2000.R.25-19r
Scope and Contents
Titled in negative. Photograph of an etching of Jacques Necker.
box 1, page 19 verso
Photographer unknown, [Pierre-Victurnien Vergniaud] 2000.R.25-19v
Scope and Contents
Pencil annotation on mount: Vergniaud. Photograph of an etching.
box 1, page 20 recto
[Blank page] 2000.R,25-20r
box 1, page 21 verso
Desmaisons, Émile, [Eugénie, Empress of France] 2000.R.25-21v
Scope and Contents
Blind stamp in photo: E. D. Verso: E. Desmaisons. 5 rue des Grands Agustins, Paris. Copyright secured for England.
box 1, page 22 recto
Desmaisons, Émile, [Napoléon III, Emperor of France] 2000.R.25-22r
Scope and Contents
Blind stamp in photo: E. D.
box 1, page 22 verso
Desmaisons, Émile, [Prince Napoléon-Eugène-Louis Bonaparte] 2000.R.25-22v
Scope and Contents
Blind stamp in photo: E. D. In negative: E. Desmaisons, DEL.
box 1, page 23 recto
Photographer unknown, Grand-père, 1880 2000.R.25-23r
Scope and Contents
Written on verso in pencil. Portrait of a seated man.
box 1, page 23 verso
[Blank page] 2000.R.25-23v
box 1, page 24 recto
Photographer unknown, [Seated Clergyman] 2000.R.25-24r
box 1, page 24 verso
Photographer unknown, [Two Young Boys, One Seated, One Standing] 2000.R.25-24v
box 1, page 25 recto
Engraved calling card for Madame Michel Roux 2000.R.25-25r
box 1, page 25 verso
[Blank page] 2000.R.25-25v
box 1, page 26 recto
Photographer unknown, [Young Man Resting Hand on Cheek] 2000.R.25-26r
Scope and Contents
Printed on verso is a poem by Jean Sarrazin entitled "Jacques Inaudi."
box 1, page 26 verso
[Blank page] 2000.R.25-26 verso
