Baron Jean-Baptiste Louis Gros (1793–1870) is one of the most fascinating characters in the history of photography. For the last ten years, I have developed a keen interest on his life and travels. A relentless adventurer, artist and man of science, he was allegedly the author of the first known photograph of my home country, Colombia.

During 2002-2004 I researched and wrote my dissertation for the Magister Degree in History and Theory of Art and Architecture about this first photographic image of Colombia; a Daguerreotype entitled Calle del Observatorio, 1848. You can find the complete text here:

 

I am currently on the look for more information about the Baron’s time in Colombia and South America, and perhaps a lead to any of the daguerrotypes of my country, which hopefuly still survive.

Until now I know of only two surviving Daguerreotypes of the Baron’s time in Colombia. The first was published in Beaumont Newhall’s History of Photography, and allegedly belongs to a private collector. (I have only seen the monotone reproduction of this Daguerreotype in Newhall’s book.)

Baron Jean-Baptiste Louis Gros, Calle del Observatorio, 1842. Daguereotype

The second Daguerreotype is part of the collection of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. For me, this Daguerreotype has outstanding quality and is more historically relevant than the first. It was also re-photographed and published as part of a book entitled ´The Daguerreotype in Colombia‘.


Baron Jean-Baptiste Gros, Plaza principal, 1842. Daguereotype

Here is a comprehensive list of links  from my research project:

Baron Jean-Baptiste Louis Gros in Wikipedia

Images of Baron Gros’ Daguerreotypes in Wikimedia Commons

Baron Gros at auction (ArtNet)
Baron Gros auction record at Invaluable

Exhibitions:

During the year 2004, the Metropolitan Museum, New York held an exhibition of some of the first of Baron Gros’ Daguerreotypes (Dated 1839, the same year the Daguerrotype method was patented) in The Dawn of Photography: French Daguerreotypes, 1839-1855.

Musee D’Orsay: French Daguerreotype, A Photographic Object, 2003

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