Albert Levy. XIX century photographer. Web. Work on progress. Beta version. A study .
Les presento una web, en versión beta,sobre la obra fotográfica de Albert Levy resultado de mi trabajo de investigación a lo largo de los años 2006-2025.
La web, como señalo, no está completamente terminada pero sí lo suficiente, pienso, para poder ser presentada en público.
THIS WEB IS A BETA VERSION. WORK IS STILL IN PROGRESS. YOU MAY FIND FORMAT ERRORS AND LINKS TO MY OLD SITES
Como ustedes saben este blog se realizó durante 2008 y 2023.
Un coleccionista, investigador no profesional, no se jubila nunca. Nuevos hallazgos sobre Albert Levy me han animado a hacer nuevas publicaciones en el blog.
Es de destacar las relacionadas con el archivo Hunt que aportan datos para explicar su labor como artista de la cámara.
Richard Morris Hunt. His archive at the Library of Congress. Collector of architectural photography.. Albert Levy photograps in the collection .
Esto me ha llevado, mejor dicho a llevado a mi hijo a realizar una pagina web sobre todos los datos de Levy recopilados de manera clara, sencilla y accesible.
Todos los datos están referenciados. Pudiera suceder que algún link esté desactualizado aunque, en ese caso, espero pueda el lector localizar la nueva dirección web con los datos aportados. en el texto.
La primera publicación sobre su labor fotográfica , estilo antiguo, se puede ver en este estudio sobre dos álbumes.
El segundo de una serie de tres
"L’Architecture Americaine" consisting on three albums:
-
Édifices publics et établissements privés
-
Habitation Urbaines
-
Habitations Suburbaines
This is the first book of a serie of three. Each book has 36 photos, and so, the three together have 108 albumen vintage photos. The collection is titled "Recueil photographique des nouveilles habitations pittoreques de France urbaines et rurales en pierre, brique, bois, ..."
En la segunda mitad del siglo XIX los fotógrafos empiezan a colaborar con los arquitectos.
Efectivamente éstos les requieren para documentar su obra en proceso de edificación, la obra terminada y, al final, incluso como modelo final para que el arquitecto pueda mostrar su trabajo previo a nuevos clientes.
Todo lo anterior supuso, en la práctica, que estas fotos quedaran guardadas dentro de los archivos de los arquitectos. Salva raras excepciones no se vendían en el mercado como obra artística propia.
Ya Levy, consciente de esta situación, en sus álbumes de fotografía, pedía la diferenciación de la foto, como obra artistica:
Je réclame pour ma collection de photographies, aujourd`hui composée de plus de 2500 sujets différents, et qui s’augmentera progressivement
1º La bon choix des sujets ;
2º La qualité et la finesse des détail ;
3º Une conservation indéfinie ;
4º L`uniformité de grandeur
5º Le prix modéré
Se cree que Durandelle nunca vendió una foto suya de manera aislada toda quedó en esos archivos de los arquitectos que se las encargaron.
A mediados del siglo XIX los estudiosos de la fotografía empiezan a estudiar estas fotos efectuando una separación nítida entra la historia de la arquitectura recogida en los archivos de los arquitectos de estas fotos que son verdadera historia pero historia de la fotografía.
Baldus es el representante más conocido de este descubrimiento general de grandes fotógrafos a principios de los 90 del pasado siglo .
La labor de Albert Levy se realizó, no sobre unos pocos arquitectos y/ o obras de arquitectura en Francia como es el caso de otros artistas franceses: Baldus, Durandelle, Le Seq...
La labor de Levy se efectúa en USA y refleja la labor de numerosos arquitectos principalmente a lo largo de la costa este. Sus fotos, a diferencia de los anteriormente comentados, se conservan en USA, y se comercian en USA pues Levy tuvo su propia tienda de fotografía donde vendía su obra:(Architectural books decorative. 77 University place New York) e, inclusive la de otros fotógrafos como Baldus.
Recordemos lo comentado en un post anterior
Richard Morris Hunt Archives. Library of Congress. facsimile signature stamp E. Baldus, blind stamp Albert Lev. Unidentified monumental interior, near completion, with ironwork awaiting assembly and installation,
https://guides.loc.gov/ld.php?content_id=80976370
la p. 2 vemos
[MN note on 6/3/2024: MN found it as the interior of the Stock Exchange in Lyon, which Sam Watters agreed/confirmed]
Su obra principal está recogida en sus series de arquitectura donde podemos ver la obra de los mejores arquitectos americanos del siglo XIX
Albert Levy's Architectural Photographic Series.. There are at least 36 series (26).
- Signature by Albert Levy in "Albert Levy's Architectural photographic series"
In some cases, in the Photographic series the Photographs are titled, numbered and mounted on blue card stock. The card stock is embossed
"Architectural & Decorative Books, Albert Levy, NY, 77, University".
EN
I present to you a website, in beta version, about Albert Levy's photographic work, the result of my research work from 2006 to 2025. The website, as I noted, is not completely finished, but I think it is sufficiently finished to be presented to the public.
THIS WEB IS A BETA VERSION. WORK IS STILL IN PROGRESS. YOU MAY FIND FORMAT ERRORS AND LINKS TO MY OLD SITES
As you know, this blog was published between 2008 and 2023. A collector, a non-professional researcher, never retires.
New discoveries about Albert Levy have led me to make recent blog posts. Of note are those related to the Hunt archive, which provide information to explain his work as a camera artist.
Richard Morris Hunt. His archive at the Library of Congress. Collector of architectural photography.. Albert Levy photograps in the collection .
This has led me, or rather, led my son, to create a website with all the Levy data collected in a clear, simple, and accessible manner.
All data is referenced. It may happen that some links are outdated, although, if so, I hope the reader can locate the new web address with the data provided in the text.
The first publication about his photographic work, old-style, can be seen in this study of two albums.
L'ARCHITECTURE AMERICAINE
The second in a series of three "L’Architecture Americaine" consisting of three albums: Public buildings and private establishments Urban Room Rooms Suburbaines
VILLAS ET CHALETS PITTORESQUES
This is the first book of a series of three. Each book has 36 photos, and so, the three together have 108 vintage album photos. The collection is titled "Recueil photographique des nouveilles habitations pittoreques de France urbaines et rurales en pierre, brique, bois,..."
In the second half of the 19th century, photographers began to collaborate with architects.
Indeed, architects required them to document their work in progress, the finished work, and, ultimately, even as a final model so the architect could show his previous work to new clients.
All of this meant, in practice, that these photos remained stored in the architects' archives. With rare exceptions, they were not sold on the market as their own artwork.
Levy, aware of this situation, already called for the differentiation of photography as an artistic work in his photography albums:
I advertised my collection of photographs, currently composed of more than 2,500 different subjects, which would progressively increase.
1. The good choice of subjects;
2. The quality and finesse of detail;
3rd An Indefinite Preservation
4th The Uniformity of Grandeur
5th The Modern Prize
It is believed that Durandelle never sold a single photograph of his; they all remained in the archives of the architects who commissioned them.
In the mid-19th century, photography scholars began to study these photographs, making a clear distinction between the history of architecture collected in the archives of architects and these photographs, which are truly history, but the history of photography. Baldus is the best-known representative of this general discovery of great photographers in the early 1990s.
Albert Levy's work was not focused on a few architects and/or architectural works in France, as is the case with other French artists: Baldus, Durandelle, Le Seq, etc.
Levy's work was carried out in the USA and reflects the work of numerous architects, mainly along the East Coast.
His photos, unlike those previously mentioned, are preserved in the USA, and are sold in the USA because Levy had his own photography shop where he sold his work: (Architectural books decorative. 77 University Place New York) and even that of other photographers such as Baldus
Richard Morris Hunt Archives. Library of Congress. facsimile signature stamp E. Baldus, blind stamp Albert Lev. Unidentified monumental interior, near completion, with ironwork awaiting assembly and installation,
https://guides.loc.gov/ld.php?content_id=80976370
la p. 2 vemos
[MN note on 6/3/2024: MN found it as the interior of the Stock Exchange in Lyon, which Sam Watters agreed/confirmed]
His main work is collected in his architectural series where we can see the work of the best American architects of the 19th century.
Albert Levy's Architectural Photographic Series.. There are at least 36 series (26).
- Signature by Albert Levy in "Albert Levy's Architectural photographic series"
In some cases, in the Photographic series the Photographs are titled, numbered and mounted on blue card stock. The card stock is embossed
"Architectural & Decorative Books, Albert Levy, NY, 77, University".
Holders of Albert Levy photos:
-
Boston Public Library
-
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library --> link
-
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
-
Metropolitan Museum of Art --> http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/department.asp?dep=19
-
Ministère de Culture France
-
George Eastman House --> http://collections.eastman.org/people/37442/albert-h-levy/objects
-
University of Winsconsin
-
Library of Congress --> They own the 2nd and 3rd serie of "L'Architecture Americaine" and they are looking for the 1st serie. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/ and look for "Albert Levy". It also has more sources (32). You can also look for "Albert Levy's Architectural photographic series" and you will find 232 photos. 45 x 39 cm
- Within the Library of Congress there is the Hunt Collection: the photography Collection of Richard Morris Hunt archive. You can find all pictures at this pdf. It contains nearly 30 of Albert Levy's pictures, incluiding pictures of his own builings during their construction (i.e: Vanderbilt's houses).
-
Jean Paul Getty Museum
-
University of Lousville
-
Cornell University
- Architektur Sammlung of the Technische Hochschule in Munich. --> they own the three series of "L'Architecture Americaine".
- Ville de Paris: BHVP / Roger-Viollet.
- Leopold Eidlitz collection (see pdf)
-
The Redwood Library and Athenæum (the oldest lending library in America, and the oldest library building in continuous use in the country. Founded in 1747) holds: "Albert Levy’s Architectural Photographic Series 2 and 10, ca. 1880
Box 9".- We can read in his GUIDE TO ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES:
Albert Levy was a French photographer born in 1847,
who studied and practiced in both the United States and
Europe. These two series were printed in New York by
Albert Levy and contain images from Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Washington,
D.C. Each photograph is numbered and identified on a
list that includes the type of building, location, and name
of the architect(s). There are a total of 54 silver gelatin
prints (9.5 x 7.75 inch) in this collection.
- We can read in his GUIDE TO ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES:
- The Russell Sturgis Photograph Collection at University Archives, Department of Special Collections, Washington University Libraries.
- Centre Canadien d'Architecture --> See pdf with the sear result (september'25). https://www.cca.qc.ca/fr/recherche?page=6&query=Albert+Levy&_=1757226213937
-
Art institute of Chicago: More images by Albert Levy in the web! In its HALIC (Historical Architecture and Landscapes Image Collection) collection look for "Albert Levy" and you will find 284 photos by Albert Levy. You can also check in the old HALIC link and look for "Levy".
- It also has the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Book Collection with 170 pictures by Albert Levy.
- National Gallery of Art (USA). Its library ows 28 pictures by Albert Levy. Most of them belong to the 3rd serie of L'Architecture Americaine.
-
Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography --> Hotel Metropole, New York. (Levy, Albert, 1844-1907, French, creator, photographer)
- Bibliothèque Nacionale de France (BnF) --> they own Albert Levy's catalogue (see catalogue), as well as:
-
Auteur(s) : Monmory, Félix. Auteur ou responsable intellectuel Voir les notices liées en tant qu'auteur
Titre(s) : Album photographique : Nouvelles maisons à loyer et hôtels particuliers à Paris comprenant vues d'ensemble, plans et détails [Texte imprimé] / Recueil composé sous la direction de M. Félix Monmory, architecte ; photographies par M. Albert Lévy. Première Partie [-Deuxième partie]
Publication : Paris : [s. n.], 1895
Description matérielle : 2 vol. ([5] f.-100 f. de pl.) : photogr. pos. ; 42 cm
Autre(s) auteur(s) : Lévy, Albert (1847-1905 ?). Photographe Voir les notices liées en tant qu'auteur
Identifiants, prix et caractéristiques : (rel.)
Identifiant de la notice : ark:/12148/cb43622441h
Notice n° : FRBNF43622441 -
Type(s) de contenu et mode(s) de consultation : Texte noté. Image fixe : sans médiation
Auteur(s) : Lévy, Albert (1847-1905 ?) Voir les notices liées en tant qu'auteur
Titre(s) : Catalogue de photographies d'architecture européenne et américaine, ancienne et moderne. .. [Texte imprimé] / Albert Lévy
Publication : Paris [19, rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin] : [s.n.], 1887
Description matérielle : 62 p. ; 22 cm
Sujet(s) : Lévy (Albert), catalogue commercial, 1887
https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb40379124w - The following pictures are all signed as "A. Levy 4 Av. Pinel Asniêres."
- *Contained under the following description: Eo 312 boîte Ensemble de plaques 31x41 cm env, epr 24x28 environ ,monochromes blues .Mention sur chaque plaque
-
Villa á Cannes D.L. 1901, 3
Villa á Fecamp D.L 1901, 4
Paris Concert Parisiana D.L. 1901, 15
Paris Inmeuble de la Companie d`assurances “ New York life insurance”. D. L. 1901 1
Paris Av, d`Iena D.L 1901, 8
Paris Av, d`Iena porte d `entrée D.L. 1901, 9
Paris Av. Du Bois de Boulogne D.L, 1901, 2
Paris . Porte cochére , rue de Longchamp D.L 1901, 5
Paris. Maison de rapport. Impasse Rapp D.L. 1901, 10
Paris. Maison de rapport. Porte d`entrée D.L. 1901, 12
Paris. Maison de rapport, un angle. D. L. 1901, 13
Paris. Maison de rapport,. Rue de Reamur D.L 1901, 6
Paris . Interieur d’ appartement rue Fortuny D. L 1901, 7Asnières , mairie, epv.23x28 cm. D.L 1905 , 1875
Ensemble de 31 pl. , 31x41 cm. Ep, 20x24 environ. Ancien .En 99. Cyanotypes
Villes de la cote est des Etats Unis .- Avant 1877
Eden theatre (Paris) vues d’ interieur. 2 photos. A 13151 Eo 312 b
Holders of Albert Levy photos:
-
-
Boston Public Library
-
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library --> link
-
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
-
Metropolitan Museum of Art --> http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/department.asp?dep=19
-
Ministère de Culture France
-
George Eastman House --> http://collections.eastman.org/people/37442/albert-h-levy/objects
-
University of Winsconsin
-
Library of Congress --> They own the 2nd and 3rd serie of "L'Architecture Americaine" and they are looking for the 1st serie. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/ and look for "Albert Levy". It also has more sources (32). You can also look for "Albert Levy's Architectural photographic series" and you will find 232 photos. 45 x 39 cm
- Within the Library of Congress there is the Hunt Collection: the photography Collection of Richard Morris Hunt archive. You can find all pictures at this pdf. It contains nearly 30 of Albert Levy's pictures, incluiding pictures of his own builings during their construction (i.e: Vanderbilt's houses).
-
Jean Paul Getty Museum
-
University of Lousville
-
Cornell University
- Architektur Sammlung of the Technische Hochschule in Munich. --> they own the three series of "L'Architecture Americaine".
- Ville de Paris: BHVP / Roger-Viollet.
- Leopold Eidlitz collection (see pdf)
-
The Redwood Library and Athenæum (the oldest lending library in America, and the oldest library building in continuous use in the country. Founded in 1747) holds: "Albert Levy’s Architectural Photographic Series 2 and 10, ca. 1880
Box 9".- We can read in his GUIDE TO ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES:
Albert Levy was a French photographer born in 1847,
who studied and practiced in both the United States and
Europe. These two series were printed in New York by
Albert Levy and contain images from Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Washington,
D.C. Each photograph is numbered and identified on a
list that includes the type of building, location, and name
of the architect(s). There are a total of 54 silver gelatin
prints (9.5 x 7.75 inch) in this collection.
- We can read in his GUIDE TO ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES:
- The Russell Sturgis Photograph Collection at University Archives, Department of Special Collections, Washington University Libraries.
- Centre Canadien d'Architecture --> See pdf with the sear result (september'25). https://www.cca.qc.ca/fr/recherche?page=6&query=Albert+Levy&_=1757226213937
-
Art institute of Chicago: More images by Albert Levy in the web! In its HALIC (Historical Architecture and Landscapes Image Collection) collection look for "Albert Levy" and you will find 284 photos by Albert Levy. You can also check in the old HALIC link and look for "Levy".
- It also has the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Book Collection with 170 pictures by Albert Levy.
- National Gallery of Art (USA). Its library ows 28 pictures by Albert Levy. Most of them belong to the 3rd serie of L'Architecture Americaine.
-
Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography --> Hotel Metropole, New York. (Levy, Albert, 1844-1907, French, creator, photographer)
- Bibliothèque Nacionale de France (BnF) --> they own Albert Levy's catalogue (see catalogue), as well as:
-
Auteur(s) : Monmory, Félix. Auteur ou responsable intellectuel Voir les notices liées en tant qu'auteur
Titre(s) : Album photographique : Nouvelles maisons à loyer et hôtels particuliers à Paris comprenant vues d'ensemble, plans et détails [Texte imprimé] / Recueil composé sous la direction de M. Félix Monmory, architecte ; photographies par M. Albert Lévy. Première Partie [-Deuxième partie]
Publication : Paris : [s. n.], 1895
Description matérielle : 2 vol. ([5] f.-100 f. de pl.) : photogr. pos. ; 42 cm
Autre(s) auteur(s) : Lévy, Albert (1847-1905 ?). Photographe Voir les notices liées en tant qu'auteur
Identifiants, prix et caractéristiques : (rel.)
Identifiant de la notice : ark:/12148/cb43622441h
Notice n° : FRBNF43622441 -
Type(s) de contenu et mode(s) de consultation : Texte noté. Image fixe : sans médiation
Auteur(s) : Lévy, Albert (1847-1905 ?) Voir les notices liées en tant qu'auteur
Titre(s) : Catalogue de photographies d'architecture européenne et américaine, ancienne et moderne. .. [Texte imprimé] / Albert Lévy
Publication : Paris [19, rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin] : [s.n.], 1887
Description matérielle : 62 p. ; 22 cm
Sujet(s) : Lévy (Albert), catalogue commercial, 1887
https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb40379124w - The following pictures are all signed as "A. Levy 4 Av. Pinel Asniêres."
- *Contained under the following description: Eo 312 boîte Ensemble de plaques 31x41 cm env, epr 24x28 environ ,monochromes blues .Mention sur chaque plaque
-
Villa á Cannes D.L. 1901, 3
Villa á Fecamp D.L 1901, 4
Paris Concert Parisiana D.L. 1901, 15
Paris Inmeuble de la Companie d`assurances “ New York life insurance”. D. L. 1901 1
Paris Av, d`Iena D.L 1901, 8
Paris Av, d`Iena porte d `entrée D.L. 1901, 9
Paris Av. Du Bois de Boulogne D.L, 1901, 2
Paris . Porte cochére , rue de Longchamp D.L 1901, 5
Paris. Maison de rapport. Impasse Rapp D.L. 1901, 10
Paris. Maison de rapport. Porte d`entrée D.L. 1901, 12
Paris. Maison de rapport, un angle. D. L. 1901, 13
Paris. Maison de rapport,. Rue de Reamur D.L 1901, 6
Paris . Interieur d’ appartement rue Fortuny D. L 1901, 7Asnières , mairie, epv.23x28 cm. D.L 1905 , 1875
Ensemble de 31 pl. , 31x41 cm. Ep, 20x24 environ. Ancien .En 99. Cyanotypes
Villes de la cote est des Etats Unis .- Avant 1877
Eden theatre (Paris) vues d’ interieur. 2 photos. A 13151 Eo 312 b
-