Description
An early and beautifully detailed photographic art CDV published by Gustav Schauer’s Photographic Art and Publishing Institute in Berlin. The image reproduces Paul Delaroche’s biblical composition commonly known as Moses in the Bulrushes or The Exposition of Moses, showing the infant Moses resting in his basket among the reeds while a young woman watches nearby.
An identical-image example is cataloged in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada and dated before 1861, providing strong institutional documentation for the subject, publisher and early period of production.
Notable features include:
* Original early albumen photographic print mounted in CDV format
* Published by Gustav Schauer at Grosse Friedrichs Strasse 188, Berlin
* Identified as Delaroche’s The Exposition of Moses
* Schauer catalogue number 532
* Title printed in German, French, English and Russian
* Identical photographic image represented in a major museum collection
* Desirable biblical subject with appeal to collectors of early photography, religious art and 19th-century European ephemera
The photograph retains attractive tonal detail throughout the figures, reeds, water and basket. The mount displays expected age toning, light scattered spotting and minor edge wear consistent with its considerable age. There are no major losses affecting the central image.
A scarce, well-documented survivor from the formative years of commercial photographic art publishing. Please view all photos carefully for the complete appearance and condition.
