Finding Aid for the Kassian Cephas Views of Java, 1872-1896
Beth Ann Guynn
Descriptive Summary
Title: Kassian Cephas views of Java
Date (inclusive): 1872-1896
Number: 2002.R.40
Creator/Collector:
Cephas, Kassian,
1845-1912
Physical Description:
18 photographs
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
reference@getty.edu
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10020/askref
(310) 440-7390
Abstract: The collection comprises 18 albumen
photographs of Indonesian Buddhist temples at Borobudur and Prambanam by Kassian
Cephas.
Language: Collection material is in Dutch; Flemish
Biographical/Historical Note
Kassian Cephas was the first professional photographer native to Java. He had a studio in
Yogyakarta and was appointed painter and photographer to the court in 1871. He was a member
of the Royal Institute of Linguistics and Anthropology (Leiden) and the Dutch Archaeological
Union (Archaeologische Vereeniging) of Yogyakarta, which commissioned his photographic
campaigns at Prambanam and Borobudur.
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Kassian Cephas views of Java, 1872-1896, Getty Research Institute, Accession no.
2002.R.40.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2002r40
Acquisition Information
Acquired in 2002.
Processing History
Processed and cataloged by Beth Guynn; finding aid encoded by Holly Larson with grant
funding from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).
Scope and Content of Collection
The 18 albumen prints in the collection show the temple at Borobudur in 1872 and from 1890
to 1891, and the Candi Lara Jonggrang temple complex at Prambanan during 1889 and 1890,
before the monuments underwent extensive restoration. The long-hidden base of Borobudur,
which had been discovered in 1885, was uncovered for the 1890-1891 photographic campaign and
then recovered to await restoration. The image of Cephas on the circular terrace at
Borobudur, and the later views of Prambanan (dated 1895 and 1896), were probably taken by
Cephas' son Sem, who was active in the family business. Also included are a view of the
western gate of the Tamansari water castle in the Kraton palace complex, and one of the main
gate of Fort Vredeburg, Yogyakarta.
Titles are devised by the cataloger unless otherwise noted. Most of the photographs have a
number and/or a Dutch caption in the negative.
Arrangement
Arranged in a single series:
Series I. Kassian Cephas views of Java, 1872-1896.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Topics
Lara Jonggrang (Temple : Prambanan, Indonesia)
Buddhist temples -- Indonesia
Borobudur (Temple : Magelang, Indonesia)
Kraton Yogyakarta
Subjects - Places
Indonesia -- Description and travel -- History -- 19th
century
Indonesia -- Antiquities
Genres and Forms of Material
Albumen prints -- Indonesia -- 19th century
Contributors
Cephas, Kassian,
1845-1912
Kassian Cephas views of Java
Arrangement
No discernable original order. Arranged by cataloger.
box 1
2002.R.40-1
[View of Circular Terrace and Stupas, Borobudur],
1890-1891
Scope and Content Note
Written on mount: Borobudur Ph. K. Cephs ca. 1890. Numbered in negative: 92.
box 1
2002.R.40-2
[General View of Borobudur],
1872 or 1890-1891
Scope and Content Note
Title from annotation on mount. Numbered in negative: 72.
box 1
2002.R.40-3
[Relief Sculptures, Exterior Niches, and Balustrade at
Prambanan],
between 1889 and 1896
Scope and Content Note
Numbered in negative: 6.
box 1
2002.R.40-4
[Gate at Western Entrance of Tamansari Water Castle, Kraton
Complex],
1890s
Scope and Content Note
Numbered in negative: 34.
box 1
2002.R.40-5
Ingang van Maha Deva's Kamer, Prambanan,
1895 April
Scope and Content Note
Titled in negative.
box 1
2002.R.40-6
[Temple Stairs, Prambanan],
between 1889 and 1896
Scope and Content Note
Numbered in negative: 50.
box 1
2002.R.40-7
[View Showing Ganesha Niche of the Shiva Temple, Candi Lara Jonggrang,
Prambanan]
between 1889 and 1896
box 1
2002.R.40-8
Prambanan,
1896 August
Scope and Content Note
Titled in negative.
box 1
2002.R.40-9
[Reliefs on the Balustrade of the Shiva Temple, Candi Lara Jonggrang,
Prambanan],
between 1889 and 1896
Scope and Content Note
Numbered in negative: 32.
box 2
2002.R.40-10
[Temple, Candi Lara Jonggrang, Prambanan],
between 1889 and 1896
Scope and Content Note
Written on mount: P. Numbered in negative: 5.
box 2
2002.R.40-11
[Temple, Candi Lara Jonggrang, Prambanan],
between 1889 and 1896
Scope and Content Note
Written on mount: P. Numbered in negative: 7.
box 2
2002.R.40-12
Baraboedoer,
1872
Scope and Content Note
Titled in negative and numbered: No. 70. Written on mount: K. Cephas.
box 2
2002.R.40-13
[Vishnu Temple, Candi Lara Jonggrang, Prambanan],
1889-1890
Scope and Content Note
Written on mount: Ph. de Kassian Cephas, 1889-1890, Prambanan.
box 2
2002.R.40-14
[View of Terrace Corner with Buddha and Stupas, Borobudur],
1872 or 1890-1891
Scope and Content Note
Written on mount: B. Numbered in negative: 85.
box 2
2002.R.40-15
[View of Top Levels of Borobudur with Buddha, Niches and Stupas],
1872 or 1890-1891
Scope and Content Note
Written on mount: B. Numbered in negative: 75.
box 2
2002.R.40-16
[View of Circular Terrace with Stupas, Borobudur],
1872 or 1890-1891
Scope and Content Note
Written on mount: B. Numbered in negative: 86. Kassian Cephas is standing in the
passageway.
box 2
2002.R.40-17
[Borobudur, View from Side],
1872 or 1890-1891
Scope and Content Note
Written on mount: B. Numbered in negative: 78.
box 2
2002.R.40-18
Kai Fort Vredeburg Jorgkarta,
1896
Scope and Content Note
Titled in negative. Shows the main gate and drawbridge of Fort Vredeburg.
