[Flower Study, Rose of Sharon]

ca. 1854
Not on view
Unlike many nineteenth-century photographs primarily intended as scientific records, this elegant flower study was meant for commercial application and only later was valued for its completeness and compositional finesse. Braun began his career as a draftsman at a large textile firm; in 1848 he opened his own photographic studio, where he produced images to be used as models by artists and designers.


Perhaps stirred by a gentle breeze during the long exposure, several of the blossoms (roses of Sharon and common roses) registered with a slight blurriness, making them appear almost to breathe and to reach beyond the dimensions of the photograph. Carefully arranged and photographed against a medium gray background, the petals, leaves, and stems are rendered with an exquisite clarity and tonal richness, masterfully recording their texture and fragility.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: [Flower Study, Rose of Sharon]
  • Artist: Adolphe Braun (French, Besançon 1811–1877 Dornach)
  • Date: ca. 1854
  • Medium: Albumen silver print from glass negative
  • Dimensions: 37.5 x 41.9 cm (14 3/4 x 16 1/2 in.)
  • Classification: Photographs
  • Credit Line: Gift of Gilman Paper Company, in memory of Samuel J. Wagstaff Jr., 1987
  • Object Number: 1987.1161
  • Curatorial Department: Photographs

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.