Carte photographique de la lune, planche VIII.A (Photographic Chart of the Moon, plate VIII.A)

September 13, 1908, printed 1914

Charles le Morvan

Associated Names
Charles Le Morvan

Artist, French, 1865 - 1933

This is a photograph of the Moon's surface. The image shows a detailed view of the lunar surface, dominated by an array of craters and the rugged terrain characteristic of the Moon. Across the left-hand side, the surface appears densely pockmarked with overlapping crater formations, creating a textured look. The right side of the image appears to be more sparsely cratered, allowing for a clearer view of the smooth, dusty plains. Bright highlights and dark shadows enhance the sense of depth, illustrating the topography and varying levels of the surface features. The photograph was captured and presented in a scientific and documentary style, evident by its labeled details and technical annotations around the border.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    photogravure

  • Credit Line

    Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund

  • Dimensions

    image: 31.1 × 25.5 cm (12 1/4 × 10 1/16 in.)
    plate: 40 × 29.5 cm (15 3/4 × 11 5/8 in.)
    sheet: 48.9 × 37.9 cm (19 1/4 × 14 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2018.22.1.32

  • Portfolio Title

    Carte photographique et systématique de la lune (Photographic and Systematic Chart of the Moon)

Associated Artworks

See all 48 artworks

Carte photographique de la lune, planche I (Photographic Chart of the Moon, plate I)

Charles Le Morvan

1909

This is a printed cover page from a publication titled "Carte Photographique et Systématique de la Lune" by M.C. Le Morvan. The cover features bold, large lettering and includes diagrams of the moon's phases, which are divided into sections labeled with Roman numerals. The text indicates the publication is a heliogravure process by L. Massard and is supported by the Académie des Sciences in Paris. It is dated MDCCCCXIV, which corresponds to the year 1914. The overall design is formal and informative, with a focus on astronomical content, likely intended for scientific or educational purposes.

Carte photographique et systématique de la lune (Photographic and Systematic Chart of the Moon)

Charles Le Morvan

1914

This is a photograph of the surface of the Moon. The image displays a detailed capture of the lunar surface, showcasing a landscape dominated by craters of varying sizes, some overlapping while others stand isolated. The texture of the lunar surface is rugged and uneven, revealing variations in shading that indicate the depth and contours of the terrain. The monochrome palette emphasizes the contrast between the cratered regions and the smoother plains. The arrangement and density of the craters suggest a heavily impacted surface over millions of years. The photograph includes text annotations detailing specific coordinates and technical information.

Carte photographique de la lune, planche II (Photographic Chart of the Moon, plate II)

Charles Le Morvan

1902

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Rick Watson, London); NGA purchase, 2018.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2019

  • By the Light of the Silvery Moon: A Century of Lunar Photographs, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2019 - 2020, unnumbered catalogue.

Inscriptions

top center in plate mark typed in black ink: CARTE PHOTOGRAPHIQUE DE LA LUNE / Par C. Le Morvan; top left: Facteur d’Agrand t. 6,0; top right: PL.VIII.A; across bottom: 1908 Septembre 13 14h 3m 54s T.M. de Paris Négatif Obtenu au Gd. Equatorial Coudé de l’Observatoire de Paris Diamètre lunaire 1m, 03; bottom center: LIMITES { EN LONG. 20° à 45° O. / EN LAT. 3° à 40° N. / Héliog. L. Massard, Paris.

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