Provenance

Charles Nes Photography

Charles Nes Photography

Explore selected works

Two wrapped mummies stand propped against a rough, earthen wall in this vertical black and white photograph. The mummy on our left is entirely covered with light-colored fabric while the mummy on the right appears to be uncovered or the coverings have melded to the skin and skeleton. A dark-skinned man sits against the wall to the left of the mummies. He wears a cap and a long, loose, light-colored tunic. His bare feet are planted on the dry, cracked dirt ground, his knees bent so he can prop one elbow on a knee to rest his head, sleeping. His arms and head are slightly blurred, and a vessel sits between his feet. Another mummy, wrapped more thickly than the other two, lies across the bottom of the picture. A larger painted vessel with a wide belly and artifacts, including perhaps a wrapped skull and an oil lamp, are displayed around the prone mummy. Cursive text along the bottom of the photograph reads "235 Momies Egyptiennes."
Félix Bonfils, Momies Egyptiennes (Egyptian Mummies), c. 1870, albumen silver print, Gift of Joyce and Robert B. Menschel, 2004.35.1

Momies Egyptiennes (Egyptian Mummies)

Félix Bonfils · c. 1870 · albumen silver print ·  Accession ID  2004.35.1

Hippolyte-Auguste Collard, Arcades de pont sur Vanne (Arcades, Bridge over the Vanne), 1873, albumen silver print, Robert B. Menschel Fund, 2007.9.2

Arcades de pont sur Vanne (Arcades, Bridge over the Vanne)

Hippolyte-Auguste Collard · 1873 · albumen silver print ·  Accession ID  2007.9.2

The image displays a woman in a ballet outfit, standing en pointe next to a column. She has delicate facial features, neatly styled hair with a floral headpiece, and a serene expression. The woman wears a classic ballet costume with a fitted bodice, short puffed sleeves, and a full tulle skirt. She is holding a book and is surrounded by a stage or studio setting with a classical column. The image is framed with twisted red cords.
André Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, Ballet Dancer, c. 1865, albumen silver print on silk, An Anonymous Fund, 2006.74.1

Ballet Dancer

André Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri · c. 1865 · albumen silver print on silk ·  Accession ID  2006.74.1

The image shows a construction site from above. In the distance, there are tall structures including two towers and a smokestack. The foreground features a stone wall and wooden walkways with workers engaged in construction activities. In the middle ground, more workers are visible working on masonry. The photo is in black and white, highlighting the textures of the materials used.
Hippolyte-Auguste Collard, Réservoir de Montrouge, basin supérieur, côté droit (Montrouge Reservoir, Upper Basin, Right Side), c. 1870, albumen silver print, Robert B. Menschel Fund, 2007.9.1

Réservoir de Montrouge, basin supérieur, côté droit (Montrouge Reservoir, Upper Basin, Right Side)

Hippolyte-Auguste Collard · c. 1870 · albumen silver print ·  Accession ID  2007.9.1

This is a photograph of a dance performance. The image shows a dynamic scene on a stage, with blurred movements and soft focus conveying motion. The central focus is on two figures embracing, surrounded by other blurred figures in motion. They are enveloped in flowing garments, and the lighting is subdued, creating elongated shadows.
Ilse Bing, Ballet "L'Errante", Paris, 1933, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2018.53.1

Ballet "L'Errante", Paris

Ilse Bing · 1933 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2018.53.1

This is a photograph of a grand Gothic cathedral with detailed architecture featuring towering spires. The cathedral is shown from a side angle, emphasizing the use of flying buttresses along its façade. A large rose window is prominently displayed on the side. The two large towers at the front of the cathedral exhibit ornate detailing, and the roof of the building slopes steeply, with an array of lines and textures. In the foreground, along a waterway, there are smaller structures and what appears to be building materials.
François-Auguste Renard, Église Notre Dame - Côté sud, 1852, salted paper print, Clinton and Jean Wright Fund, 2020.55.1

Église Notre Dame - Côté sud

François-Auguste Renard · 1852 · salted paper print ·  Accession ID  2020.55.1

The image shows a landscape with a large tree dominating the right side of the scene. The view is from ground level, with a dirt path winding to the left. The horizon is low, with an open field stretching into the distance. Smaller leafless trees are scattered in the background. The image is monochromatic with primarily sepia tones, highlighting the texture of the tree bark. Shadows from the branches create lines across the path.
Felix Thiollier, Grand Châtaignier au Bord d'un Chemin (Large Chestnut Tree on the Side of a Road), c.1875-1880, albumen silver print, Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund, 2013.191.1

Grand Châtaignier au Bord d'un Chemin (Large Chestnut Tree on the Side of a Road)

Felix Thiollier · c.1875-1880 · albumen silver print ·  Accession ID  2013.191.1

The image shows large ancient sculptures featuring figures standing alongside a fallen head. The upright statues are in an ancient Egyptian style, with arms crossed on the chest. They are made from a light-colored stone and appear weathered. The fallen head on the ground is colossal, with detailed carvings including a headdress and distinct facial features. The sculptures are consistent in material. People and a camel in the foreground provide scale, indicating the sculptures are larger than life-size. The scene includes people interacting with the site.
Francis Frith, The Ramasseum of El-Kurneh, Thebes, First View, c. 1857, albumen silver print, Millennium Funds, 2003.35.1

The Ramasseum of El-Kurneh, Thebes, First View

Francis Frith · c. 1857 · albumen silver print ·  Accession ID  2003.35.1