• Projects
  • Photographers
  • Books
Logo
Log in
Logo

All rights to images belong to photographers and are used under fair use for non-commercial purposes. If you have any concerns, please contact us.

Explore

  • Projects
  • Photographers
  • Books

About

  • Our Mission
  • F.A.Q.

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Submit Your Project
  • Donate

Policies

  • Copyright Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

All rights to images belong to photographers and are used under fair use for non-commercial purposes. If you have any concerns, please contact us.

The Encyclopedia of Photography’s Art and History

    American Cities and Ruins

    • Désiré Charnay (1828-1915)

    A 19th-century photographic and archaeological exploration of pre-Columbian ruins in Central America and Mexico, documenting Maya and Toltec civilizations.

    Ancient Temple, at Chichen-Itza, called The Castle. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.

    American Cities and Ruins

    • Désiré Charnay (1828-1915)

    A 19th-century photographic and archaeological exploration of pre-Columbian ruins in Central America and Mexico, documenting Maya and Toltec civilizations.

    Ancient Temple, at Chichen-Itza, called The Castle. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Colossal bas-relief, at Palenque; right side of the Palace courtyard. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Nunnery Palace, in Uxmal, façade of the North wing. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    General View of the Ruins, in Uxmal. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    House of the Dwarf, in Uxmal. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Nunnery Palace, in Uxmal; detail of the south side. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Grand Palace, in Mitla. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Nunnery Palace, at Uxmal; the so-called Egyptian façade. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Circus Palace, at Chichen-Itza, bas-relief of the tigers. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Governor's Palace, at Uxmal; House of the Turtles. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    General view of the ruins, at Mitla. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Circus Palace, in Chichen-Itza, interior of a hall. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Palace, at Palenque; façade. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Grand Palace, at Mitla, western façade. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Square and Second Pyramid, at Izamal. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Grand Palace, at Mitla, Great Hall. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Grand Palace, at Mitla, western facade. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Curate's House, at Mitla, Exterior. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Maison du Curé, à Mitla, interieur. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Great Pyramid, at Izamal. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.
    Fourth Palace, at Mitla, Eastern Facade. Courtesy of The New York Public Library.

    Books

    Desire Charnay, Expeditionary Photographer

    (University of New Mexico Press, 1981)

    Related Projects

    Valley of the Tombs of the Kings, Thebes
    Egypt and Palestine
    • Francis Frith (1822-1898)

    A 19th-century expeditionary project capturing Egypt and Palestine’s ancient ruins and landscapes.

    Jerusalem, Temple Precinct, Probationary Pool, 1
    Jerusalem: Study and Photographic Reproduction of the Monuments of the Holy City
    • Auguste Salzmann (1824-1872)

    A meticulous visual study of Jerusalem’s ancient structures that redefined photography’s role in archaeology and 19th-century exploration.

    Ancient ruins in the Cañon de Chelle, N.M. In a niche 50 feet above present Cañon bed,1873; Photo by Timothy H. O'Sullivan.
    Wheeler Survey
    • Timothy H. O'Sullivan (1840-1882),
    • William Bell (1830-1910)

    Western U.S. landscapes and geological features taken during expeditions from 1871–1873.

    Prince Kung, 1873
    Illustrations of China and Its People
    • John Thomson (1837-1921)

    Ethnographic and artistic exploration of social and cultural traditions in 19th-century China.

    Jerusalem: Tower of David with its great Solomonic foundations.
    Journey to the Orient
    • Louis de Clercq (1837-1901)

    Architectural and spiritual heritage of Palestine through meticulous early photography, blending documentation with artistic sensitivity.

    Cairo, Naceriya Mosque
    Egypt and Nubia: The Most Interesting Sites and Monuments for the Study of Art and History
    • Félix Teynard (1817-1892)

    Exploration of ancient Egyptian and Nubian monuments, blending artistry with archaeological documentation in the mid-19th century.