Jules Itier and the Lagrené Mission

In the 1970s, Gilbert Gimon discovered the daguerreotype work of Jules Itier and subsequently published two articles: one in French in 1980 and one in English in 1981. The historical importance of this discovery is now firmly established and the two articles have become key sources of reference. However, a close study of these publications reveals mistakes and assumptions that require resolution. Part one of this article considers two phases of gathering and dispersal of this body of work, first in the mid-nineteenth century and subsequently in the twentieth century. Individuals, situations and institutions are identified in order to assist with the necessary corrections and reinterpretations. In part two, Itier’s journal and Gimon’s articles are cross-referenced in relation to new source materials in order to undertake an in-depth investigation of a number of plates presented in chronological order. This has resulted in the correction of a number of erroneous dates and statements made by Gimon. In the process, an unexpected new name in the early history of photography was revealed in relation to the earliest clearly dated photograph of India. This article concludes with a new reading of Itier’s work and its significance for the history of photography in Asia.

Citation:
Massot, Gilles. "Jules Itier and the Lagrené Mission." History of Photography, vol. 39, no. 4, 2015, pp. 319-347, doi:10.1080/03087298.2015.1106714