Finding aid for Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite, approximately
1861-1880
Beth Ann Guynn
Descriptive Summary
Title: Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite
Date (inclusive): between 1861 and 1880
Number: 2000.R.25
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear Feet
(1 album)
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 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.
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Language: Collection is in French
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.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Publication Rights
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
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.
Digitzed Material
The collection was digitized in 2010 and the images are available online:
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2000r25.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in a single series: Series I: Album of Mexican and French
cartes-de-visite, approximately 1861-1880.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
Napoleon, Emperor of the French, III,
1808-1873 -- Portraits
Desmaisons, Emilien,
1812-1880
González Ortega, Jesús, 1822-1881 --
Portraits
Mejía, Tomás, 1820-1867 --
Portraits
Zaragoza, Ignacio, 1829-1862 --
Portraits
Subjects - Topics
Generals -- Mexico -- Portraits
Indians of Mexico -- Portraits
Occupations -- Mexico
Subjects - Places
Mexico -- Antiquities
Mexico -- History -- European Intervention, 1861-1867
Genres and Forms of Material
Cartes-de-visite -- Mexico -- 19th century
Photograph albums -- Mexico -- 19th century
Albumen prints -- Mexico -- 19th century
Studio portraits -- Mexico -- 19th century
Photographs, Original
box 1
Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite,
between 1861 and 1880
Album of Mexican and French cartes-de-visite
Arrangement
In original order.
box 1, page 1 recto
2000.R.25-1r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Dieu des astèques. (Anciens mexicains)
Scope and Content Note
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
2000.R.25-1v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Idoles astèques
Scope and Content Note
Three small terracotta figures.
box 1, page 2 recto
2000.R.25-2r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Idoles astèques
Scope and Content Note
Three small terracotta figures.
box 1, page 2 verso
2000.R.25-2v
Photographer unknown, Charnay, Desiré (?), Mexique. Calendrier astèque
Scope and Content Note
Numbered in negative, upper left corner: 7. Copy photograph after Charnay?
box 1, page 3 recto
2000.R.25-3r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Princesse astèque
Scope and Content Note
Statuette of a woman holding a bow and shield.
box 1, page 3 verso
2000.R.25-3v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Le curé Hidalgo, qui leva l'etendard de la
révolte en 1811, contre les Espagnols
Scope and Content Note
Reproduces a portrait of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Image also found in Special
Collections accession no. 92.R.8.
box 1, page 4 recto
2000.R.25-4r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Sant Anna. Ex président
Scope and Content Note
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
2000.R.25-4v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Comontfort [sic]. Ex président
Scope and Content Note
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
2000.R.25-5r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Juarès. Ex président
Scope and Content Note
Portrait of Benito Juárez. Image also found in Special Collections accession no.
93.R.20.
box 1, page 5 verso
2000.R.25-5v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Le général Sarragoza, défenseur de Puebla le 5
Mai 1862
Scope and Content Note
Portrait of Ignacio Zaragoza.
box 1, page 6 recto
2000.R.25-6r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Le général Ortéga. Défenseur de Puebla en
1863
Scope and Content Note
Portrait of Jesús González Ortega.
box 1, page 6 verso
2000.R.25-6v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Le général Méjia, 1866
Scope and Content Note
Portrait of Tomás Mejía.
box 1, page 7 recto
2000.R.25-7r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Doblado, gouverneur de l'état de Guanajuato.
Ex ministre
Scope and Content Note
Portrait of Manuel Doblado Partida.
box 1, page 7 verso
2000.R.25-7v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Tortilleras, ou fabricantes de tortilles
(galettes de maïs)
box 1, page 8 recto
2000.R.25-8r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Soldats
box 1, page 8 verso
2000.R.25-8v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Indiennes. Marchandes de fleurs
Scope and Content Note
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 9 recto
2000.R.25-9r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Marchand de bananes et autres fruits
Scope and Content Note
Photograph of a clay(?) and cloth figurine.
box 1, page 9 verso
2002.R.25-9v
Photographer unknown, Mexicaine de la classe moyenne
box 1, page 10 recto
2000.R.25-10r
Photographer unknown, Aguador ou porteur d'eau de Mexico
Scope and Content Note
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 10 verso
2000.R.25-10v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Marchande de poires cuites
Scope and Content Note
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 11 recto
2000.R.25-11r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Marchand de volailles. Indien
Scope and Content Note
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 11 verso
2000.R.25-11v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Pulquéro, ou extracteur du pulqué (boisson
nationale)
box 1, page 12 recto
2000.R.25-12r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Charbonnière indienne
box 1, page 12 verso
2000.R.25-12v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Carnicéro – ou boucher
Scope and Content Note
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
2000.R.25-13r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Floréra ou fleuriste
box 1, page 13 verso
2000.R.25-13v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Cavalier civil
Scope and Content Note
Image also found in Special Collections accession no. 93.R.20.
box 1, page 14 recto
2000.R.25-14r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Cestéro, ou fabricant de paniers
box 1, page 14 verso
2000.R.25-14v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Servante
box 1, page 15 recto
2999.R.25-15r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Sérénos ou gardes de nuit
box 1, page 15 verso
2000.R.25-15v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Petits indiens
box 1, page 16 recto
2000.R.25-16r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Jeune indienne
box 1, page 16 verso
2000.R.25-16v
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Ollero, ou marchand de poterie
box 1, page 17 recto
2000.R.25-17r
Photographer unknown, Mexique. Maçon
box 1, page 17 verso
2000.R.25-17v
Photographer unknown, [Male Head]
Scope and Content Note
Portrait of Marat? Photograph after an etching.
box 1, page 18 recto
2000.R.25-18r
Photographer unknown, [Portrait of a Three-quarter-length Standing Male
Figure]
Scope and Content Note
Pencil annotation on mount: Cambery. Photograph of an etching.
box 1, page 18 verso
2000.R.25-18v
Photographer unknown, [Jean-Marie Roland de la Platière]
Scope and Content Note
Pencil annotation on mount: Roland. Photograph of an etching.
box 1, page 19 recto
2000.R.25-19r
Photographer unknown, Necker
Scope and Content Note
Titled in negative. Photograph of an etching of Jacques Necker.
box 1, page 19 verso
2000.R.25-19v
Photographer unknown, [Pierre-Victurnien Vergniaud]
Scope and Content Note
Pencil annotation on mount: Vergniaud. Photograph of an etching.
box 1, page 20 recto
2000.R,25-20r
[Blank page]
box 1, page 21 verso
2000.R.25-21v
Desmaisons, Émile, [Eugénie, Empress of France]
Scope and Content Note
Blind stamp in photo: E. D. Verso: E. Desmaisons. 5 rue des Grands Agustins, Paris.
Copyright secured for England.
box 1, page 22 recto
2000.R.25-22r
Desmaisons, Émile, [Napoléon III, Emperor of France]
Scope and Content Note
Blind stamp in photo: E. D.
box 1, page 22 verso
2000.R.25-22v
Desmaisons, Émile, [Prince Napoléon-Eugène-Louis Bonaparte]
Scope and Content Note
Blind stamp in photo: E. D. In negative: E. Desmaisons, DEL.
box 1, page 23 recto
2000.R.25-23r
Photographer unknown, Grand-père, 1880
Scope and Content Note
Written on verso in pencil. Portrait of a seated man.
box 1, page 23 verso
2000.R.25-23v
[Blank page]
box 1, page 24 recto
2000.R.25-24r
Photographer unknown, [Seated Clergyman]
box 1, page 24 verso
2000.R.25-24v
Photographer unknown, [Two Young Boys, One Seated, One Standing]
box 1, page 25 recto
2000.R.25-25r
Engraved calling card for Madame Michel Roux
Scope and Content Note
With engraved address; 27 rue Vaubecour; written in ink: Voeux de bonne année.
box 1, page 25 verso
2000.R.25-25v
[Blank page]
box 1, page 26 recto
2000.R.25-26r
Photographer unknown, [Young Man Resting Hand on Cheek]
Scope and Content Note
Printed on verso is a poem by Jean Sarrazin entitled "Jacques Inaudi."
box 1, page 26 verso
2000.R.25-26 verso
[Blank page]
