Clifford, Robertson & Beato Photographs of Spain, Greece & Turkey {c.1860} SLV [PH]

Clifford, Charles (c.1819/20-63; Welsh); and Robertson & Beato (active c.1853-67)
Photographs of Spain, Greece and Turkey (album)
31 albumen silver photographs
Purchased from the Architectural Photographic Association, c. 1860
State Library of Victoria PCLTWEF 4 [H87.119/1-31]

One of the albums of photographs acquired for Melbourne in the early 1860s, this is inscribed on the spine as comprising photos by “Clifford, Robertson & Beato” (and also described thus in the 1865 Melbourne catalogue). It includes views of Seville and other Spanish cities, Athens, and Constantinople. The SLV notes that 12 photographs are signed by Robertson alone (including the print shown here), and 5 by Robertson & Beato.

The views of Spain were presumably taken by Clifford, documented as active from 1852 until his death in Madrid, where he served as court photographer to Queen Isabella. He was also commissioned to take several portrait photographs of Queen Victoria in 1861.

See also Frith, Robertson & Beato: Palestine & Syria {1860} SLV [PH].

[reproduction: Robertson: Erechtheum, Athens (H87.119/17)]

Refs.

NGV 1865, pp.72-73: as by Clifford, Robertson & Beato (listing all titles)

For further details, see SLV catalogue (under Robertson, dated to c.1857-60); as transferred to the Pictures Collection, previously held at SEF 779 L84); not reproduced (author’s ID photo here)

For Clifford, with further details and a good selection of reproductions, see https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/artists/1552/charles-clifford-english-18191820-1863/ (accessed 24 Jan.2021); for Robertson & Beato, see linked artist entry