Vittorio Sella [1859-1943].
The Matterhorn (Cervino), six large format silver print photographs of the mountain, comprising:
5 - Alte Alpi. Cervino dall’Unter-Theodule Gletscher, nell’inverno 1884, depicting a figure on the glacier looking towards the peak.
Slight retouching to the figure and glacier surface, manuscript description to lower margin, portrait;
124 - Cervino dalla Valle Zmutt (Zermatt) 4 Agosto 1883, an unusual view of the ridge.
Blind-stamped ‘Vittorio Sella, Biella’ lower right, printed title on slip to lower margin, portrait;
423 - Cervino (Matterhorn) e Monte Rosa dal Col des Grandes-Murailles 4000m circa, view of the peak with mountain range in background.
Very lightly tinted, matt, blind-stamped ‘Vittorio Sella, Biella’ to lower right, printed title on slip to lower margin, landscape;
With three untitled views, one portrait and two landscape, one in which the tinted foreground of two mountaineers and equipment is skilfully superimposed over a view of the Matterhorn (this image has some retouching to the skyline and some red scuffing to top right).
The other landscape photograph is framed and glazed and appears to have had its margins removed or folded.
Silver prints on bromide double weight paper, sheet size 300mm x 397mm, unglazed glossy unless stated, believed printed later than the dates given.
C Douglas Milner described Vittorio Bella as ‘the greatest of all photographers of [his] generation’ (A Century of Mountain Photography, Alpine Club Journal, Nov 1957). For a detailed description of his life and work, see Ronald Clark’s monograph ‘The Splendid Hills, The Life and Photographs of Vittorio Sella, 1859-1943’, Phoenix House, 1948.
[provenance, the photographs were purchased in 1945 by the vendor’s father, a British Army Captain, while stationed in the town of Biella]. (6)