Beato, Antonio
Antonio Beato (1835 - 1906) was an Italian-British photographer best known for his work in Egypt and the Mediterranean region. Beato was born of a Venetian family. He became a British citizen as a young man. He is often associated with his older brother Felice Beato (1832 - January 29, 1909), also a photographer, with whom he worked extensively, often sharing a signature as 'Felice Antonio Beato' or 'Felice A. Beato'. The brothers may have been introduced to photography in Malta in 1850 where they met British photographer James Robertson (1813 - 1888). One of the brothers, it is not clear which, purchased photographic equipment in Paris in 1851. Again, one of the brothers accompanied Robertson to Constantinople in 1851, where they formed a partnership, 'Robertson and Beato' in 1853. By this time, both brothers were working with Robertson in Constantinople. They traveled to India, in 1857 and 1858, photographing the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Antonio set off for Europe in 1859 by way of Suez. He likely changed his plans in route, as shortly thereafter we find him in Cairo, then Luxor, where he opened a photographic studio in 1862. He remained in Luxor, taking photographs of monuments and tourists, until his death in 1906.
'The Crown of Horus, bull of victory, Arisen in Thebes...'
Cleopatra's Needle.
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This is a c. 1860 Antonio Beato albumen silver print from a glass negative depicting Cleopatra's Needle, Alexandria, Egypt. Here the obelisk is photographed in Alexandria, with surrounding construction and several lounging Egyptians, before it was gifted to the city of New York by the Khedive of Egypt in 1877. This famous obelisk now stands in New York's Central Park. This image has copious annotations in the lower margins, some of which must have been added decades after the photo was acquired - clearly indicating a lingering fascination with the monument. (more details)
'My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!' - Shelly
The Colossi of Thebes.
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This is a c. 1860 Antonio Beato albumen silver print from a glass negative depicting the Colossi of Memnon, Thebes, Egypt. The great statues of Amenhotep III dominate the images, with an ancient temple in the background. Egyptians stand near each statue, likely intended to provide scale to the 50-foot-high monuments. The owner of the photograph seems to have been particularly fascinated with them and has jotted notes below the image. (more details)
'There are various eyes. Even the Sphinx has eyes: and as a result there are various truths, and as a result there is no truth.' -Nietzsche
The Sphinx and the Second Pyramid Gizah.
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This is a c. 1860 Antonio Beato albumen silver print from a glass negative depicting the Great Sphinx and the Pyramid of Khafre, Giza, Egypt. The mostly buried head and shoulders of the Great Sphinx dominate the image, while Pyramid of Khafre (the second of the three Giza pyramids) fills the background. (more details)