Bonfils Albumen Prints

Historical collection of Bonfils Albumen Prints.

Archival Category: Albumen Photos | Era: 19th Century | Geography: Europe | Holdings: 91 items.

Cataloged Works in this Collection

  • Cour et colonnade de la mosquée El-Azhar, avec étudiants

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Albumen print

    Dimensions: 11.8 × 8.1 in (30.0 × 20.6 cm)

    Location: Cairo, Egypt

    This evocative 19th-century albumen photograph captures scholars and students seated in the sun-drenched central courtyard and arcade of the historic Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.

  • Intérieur du Temple de Bacchus, Baalbeck (Interior of the Temple of Bacchus)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885) / Maison Bonfils

    Date: c. 1870–1880

    Medium: Albumen print

    Dimensions: 9 x 11.5 inches (22 x 29 cm)

    Location: Baalbek, Lebanon

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph depicting the monumental fluted Corinthian columns and intricate classical masonry inside the ancient Roman Temple of Bacchus at Baalbek, taken by the renowned studio Maison Bonfils.

  • Baalbek, Vue Générale (General View of Baalbek)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1870s

    Medium: Albumen print

    Dimensions: 7.5 x 11.5 inches (19 x 29 cm)

    Location: Baalbek, Lebanon

    This evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils captures a sweeping vista of the magnificent ancient Roman ruins at Baalbek, showcasing the iconic surviving columns of the Temple of Jupiter rising above the surrounding rural village.

  • Vue prise de Gethsémani [Jerusalem]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1875

    Medium: Albumen print

    Dimensions: 10.5 × 8.5 in (26.7 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Israel

    This evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils captures a sweeping view across the Kidron Valley toward the eastern Ottoman city walls and minarets of Jerusalem from the slopes of the Mount of Olives near Gethsemane.

  • Jerusalem N° 1096 Tour Antonia

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1875

    Medium: Albumen silver print

    Dimensions: 8.1 × 11.0 in (20.6 × 27.9 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem

    An evocative 19th-century albumen photograph capturing a narrow stone street and arched gateway in the Old City of Jerusalem historically associated with the Antonia Fortress, complete with local figures in regional attire.

  • Sepulcre facade [Façade du St. Sépulcre]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1870s

    Medium: Albumen print on card mount

    Dimensions: 9.55 × 11.45 in (24.3 × 29.1 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Israel / Palestine

    A striking 19th-century albumen photograph depicting the parvis and main facade of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, highlighting its iconic Romanesque bell tower and central dome.

  • N°1205 Cérémonie du lavement des pieds chez les grecs devant le St Sepulcre

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Albumen print photograph

    Dimensions: 8.9 × 11.5 in (22.6 × 29.2 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Ottoman Empire (Israel/Palestine)

    A dramatic late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils documenting the Greek Orthodox ceremony of the Washing of the Feet taking place in the crowded courtyard outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

  • Réservoir de Salomon près Bethléem (Pools of Solomon near Bethlehem)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Albumen print mounted on original card stock

    Dimensions: 14.1 × 14.7 in (35.8 × 37.3 cm)

    Location: Pools of Solomon, Bethlehem, Palestine

    A compelling late 19th-century albumen photograph capturing one of the historic stone reservoirs known as the Pools of Solomon near Bethlehem, set against the barren, terraced Judean landscape with local travelers and pack animals in the foreground.

  • N° 1026. Vue générale de Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1870s–1880s

    Medium: Albumen print mounted on cardstock

    Dimensions: 14.0 × 11.0 in (35.6 × 27.9 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem

    An elevated late 19th-century panoramic albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils depicting the Old City of Jerusalem, featuring its historic Ottoman walls, prominent landmarks such as the Dome of the Rock, and foreground stone structures.

  • 56. Caire. Porte de la mosquée [Sultan Hassan]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1870-1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 7.9 × 9.1 in (20.1 × 23.1 cm)

    Location: Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt

    This striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by Maison Bonfils captures the monumental muqarnas-vaulted portal of the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan in Cairo, accented by small street vendors at its base.

  • Tour des 40 martyrs, Ramleh (No. 249)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: ca. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.1 × 12.9 in (28.2 × 32.8 cm)

    Location: Ramla, Central District, Israel

    A striking late-19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing the iconic 14th-century Mamluk minaret known as the Tower of the Forty Martyrs (or the White Tower) in Ramla, flanked by ancient ruins.

  • 845 - Intérieur de la porte de Jaffa

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (or Bonfils Studio)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 15.9 × 15.3 in (40.4 × 38.9 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph capturing a bustling street scene just inside Jerusalem's historic Jaffa Gate, featuring local inhabitants, pack animals, and the prominent shop of antique and souvenir dealer Boulos Meo.

  • Cheikh bedouen des environs de Gaza

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.5 × 9.55 in (21.6 × 24.3 cm)

    Location: Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine

    A striking late 19th-century photographic portrait by the renowned French studio of Félix Bonfils, depicting a Bedouin Sheikh on horseback holding a long traditional lance near Gaza, showcasing exceptional ethnographic detail in costume, weaponry, and tack.

  • Bedouins and Camels at a Well, Palestine

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885) / Maison Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.8 × 9.3 in (30.0 × 23.6 cm)

    Location: Palestine

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Maison Bonfils, capturing a serene genre scene of local travelers with camels resting near a stone well in the historic landscape of Palestine.

  • Inscriptions au Fleuve du Chien [Nahr al-Kalb Commemorative Rock Inscriptions]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1875

    Medium: Albumen print

    Dimensions: 8.7 × 10.9 inches

    Location: Nahr al-Kalb (Dog River), Lebanon

    This late nineteenth-century albumen photograph by renowned French commercial photographer Félix Bonfils captures the ancient rock-carved commemorative stelae at Nahr al-Kalb (the Dog River), situated north of Beirut in modern-day Lebanon. The rocky promontory historically formed a formidable natural barrier along the coastal transit corridor of the Levant, compelling successive invading armies and conquerors—including Egyptian pharaohs, Neo-Assyrian monarchs, Roman emperors, and modern imperial forces—to carve commemorative inscriptions and relief sculptures into the limestone cliffs to mark their passage. The composition clearly details an arched Neo-Assyrian relief depicting a monarch beside an Egyptian-style rectangular stele framed with architectural moldings and dense cuneiform or hieroglyphic inscriptions. In the foreground, two local figures in traditional Levantine attire (including turbans and pleated sirwal trousers) provide human scale against the monumental limestone outcrops, highlighting both the archaeological grandeur and contemporary ethnographic character of Ottoman-era Lebanon.

  • Hermitage and Sacred Cave in the Rocky Cliffs, Holy Land

    Cartographer / Artist: Attributed to Félix Bonfils or Maison Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Albumen silver print mounted on cardstock

    Dimensions: 10.59 × 8.4 inches

    Location: Levant, Middle East

    This late nineteenth-century albumen photograph captures a dramatic, sun-drenched rocky hillside in the Levant, featuring ancient cave dwellings, monastic hermitages, and stone-built architectural structures embedded into the sheer cliff face. The composition highlights the stark, rugged topography characteristic of the Judean Desert and northern Holy Land valleys, where ascetic monks, hermits, and local inhabitants historically carved shelters and terraced sanctuaries directly into the limestone escarpments. At the upper left, an arched stone structure with vaulted loggias rests precariously against the incline, while below to the right, a cavernous rock-cut grotto and carved niche are visible. A lone figure stands near the foreground pathways, providing a striking sense of scale against the colossal rock formations. The photograph illustrates the nineteenth-century European documentary interest in biblical landscapes, pilgrimage sites, and regional archaeological topography.

  • Panoramic View of Beirut and the Mediterranean Coast

    Cartographer / Artist: Attributed to Maison Bonfils (Félix Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Albumen print mounted on card

    Dimensions: 11.0 × 11.25 inches

    Location: Beirut, Lebanon

    An evocative late nineteenth-century albumen photograph providing an expansive, elevated panoramic perspective overlooking the coastal city of Beirut during the late Ottoman era. The composition captures the transition between the rugged, sparsely vegetated foreground slopes and the dense traditional stone architecture of the city extending outward toward the rocky Mediterranean coastline and peninsula. Prominent multi-story mansions displaying classical Levantine arcades, triple-arched loggias, and red-tiled hip roofs dot the urban fabric amidst clusters of verdant gardens and date palms. In the background, the hazy expanse of the bay curves toward the distant, layered silhouette of the Mount Lebanon range, reflecting the atmospheric grandeur characteristic of commercial landscape photography produced for European travelers on the Grand Tour. Studios like Maison Bonfils documented the rapid expansion and architectural modernization of Levantine port cities in the late 19th century, producing vital visual records of the region's urban and geographic heritage prior to 20th-century development.

  • Intérieur de la Mosquée El-Aksa, Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Maison Bonfils (Félix Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Albumen silver print on card mount

    Dimensions: 10.7 × 11.4 inches

    Location: Jerusalem, Palestine / Ottoman Empire

    An evocative 19th-century albumen photograph capturing the grand hypostyle interior of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. The perspective runs along the primary nave, highlighting the impressive row of classical Corinthian spolia columns supporting an arcade of pointed arches and ornately carved wooden tie-beams. Suspended from the beams are traditional glass oil lamps and metal chandeliers. In the background, intricate mosaics, architectural relief carvings, and calligraphy are visible surrounding the elevated bays leading towards the mihrab. A simple wooden bench or takht rests on the left foreground floor. This view offers valuable architectural and documentary evidence of the sanctuary's structural state and interior furnishings under late Ottoman administration prior to major 20th-century renovations.

  • Jérusalem. Mosquée d'Omar avec bassin [No. 284]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.6 × 10.8 in (21.8 × 27.4 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late-19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Maison Bonfils, capturing the iconic Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, composed with the ceremonial ablution fountain (al-Kas) in the immediate foreground.

  • Jerusalem. Détails intérieurs de la mosquée El-Aksa (No. 863)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 7.8 × 10.7 in (19.8 × 27.2 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    This striking late-19th-century albumen photograph by renowned photographer Félix Bonfils captures the exquisite interior architecture, ornate minbar, and mihrab of the historic Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

  • Jerusalem. Chaire dans l'interieur de la mosquee El-Aksa

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.5 × 10.5 in (21.6 × 26.7 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An exquisite late-19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing the intricate wooden Minbar of Saladin inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem before its destruction in 1969.

  • 846. Forteresse pres de la porte de Jaffa a Jérusalem [Fortress near the Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1870-1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.8 × 8.6 in (27.4 × 21.8 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking, highly detailed late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils, depicting the Citadel (Tower of David) near Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, complete with an active street market and figures in the foreground.

  • 292. Mont des Oliviers. Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.9 × 8.3 in (27.7 × 21.1 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Bonfils studio, capturing a detailed panoramic view of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, featuring early structures including the Church of Mary Magdalene.

  • Jérusalem. Porte de David (No. 91)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.3 × 10.8 in (21.1 × 27.4 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph by renowned photographer Félix Bonfils depicting the historic Zion Gate (historically also known as the Gate of David) in Jerusalem, showcasing its classic Ottoman defensive architecture and a solitary local figure for scale.

  • Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem [Porte de Jaffa, Jérusalem]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885) / Maison Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.2 × 10.8 in (20.8 × 27.4 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A compelling late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils depicting a lively scene at the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, complete with local residents, merchants, and camels set against the towering ancient stone fortifications.

  • Arche de Robinson, Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.1 × 11.1 in (25.7 × 28.2 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late-19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils, depicting the ancient ruins of Robinson's Arch on the Western Wall in Jerusalem, complete with a local inhabitant resting in its shadow.

  • 253. Rue de l'Ecce-Homo, Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1870-1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.6 × 10.9 in (21.8 × 27.7 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    This evocative late-19th-century albumen photograph by renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils captures the historic Ecce Homo Arch spanning the Via Dolorosa in the Old City of Jerusalem, showing the dramatic stone masonry and quiet alleyway of the era.

  • 229. Jerusalem. Murs et porte dorée

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 7.8 × 8.1 in (19.8 × 20.6 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    This striking late-19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils captures the imposing Eastern Wall of Jerusalem's Old City and the sealed Golden Gate, fronted by the historic Bab al-Rahma Muslim cemetery.

  • 309. Vallée de Josaphat, côté sud

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1870s–1880s

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.0 × 7.2 in (25.4 × 18.3 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    This evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils captures the rugged, tomb-lined landscape of the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Kidron Valley) looking south from Jerusalem, showcasing the dramatic topography and ancient ruins of the region.

  • Piscine probatique ou de Bethesda, intérieur (No. 958 bis)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1870-1880s

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 9.1 × 10.5 in (23.1 × 26.7 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An evocative late-19th-century albumen photograph by the prominent French studio of Félix Bonfils, capturing the atmospheric, vaulted stone interior of the historic Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.

  • Vallée de Josaphat [Valley of Jehoshaphat]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1870–1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 9.4 × 8.4 in (23.9 × 21.3 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the prominent French photographer Félix Bonfils, capturing the arid expanse of the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Kidron Valley) near Jerusalem, featuring the iconic ancient Tomb of Absalom amidst terraced slopes and olive groves.

  • Panorama de Jérusalem pris du Clocher St. Sauveur (No. 843)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.45 × 8.35 in (26.5 × 21.2 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking, high-contrast late 19th-century albumen photograph capturing a panoramic view of Jerusalem's Old City from the belfry of St. Saviour Church, highlighting the prominent domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

  • 857 - Ancien hopital Saint-Jean à Jérusalem. Palestine.

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.0 × 8.2 in (25.4 × 20.8 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph capturing the evocative, ruined Crusader-era remains of the ancient Hospital of Saint John in Jerusalem, featuring two figures in traditional dress providing architectural scale.

  • 840. Panorama de Jérusalem pris de l'Ouest

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (French, 1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.7 × 8.5 in (27.2 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the west, showcasing the dense historic architecture, prominent domes, and the Mount of Olives in the background.

  • 96. Jérusalem Jardin du roi - Rois XV.4 vallée de Josaphat, Palestine

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.4 × 8.25 in (26.4 × 21.0 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph depicting the terraced agricultural landscape of the King's Garden in the Kidron Valley, with the southern walls of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque prominent on the ridge above.

  • Grotte des jérémies et couvent Saint-Étienne à Jérusalem (Jeremiah's Grotto and St. Stephen's Convent in Jerusalem)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.0 × 8.0 in (25.4 × 20.3 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An evocative late-19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Bonfils studio capturing the rugged landscape of Jeremiah's Grotto and the Saint-Étienne Convent in Jerusalem.

  • Porte de la miséricorde, Jérusalem [Gate of Mercy / Golden Gate, Jerusalem]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (attributed)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.25 × 8.0 in (26.0 × 20.3 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph capturing the ancient, sealed Golden Gate (Gate of Mercy) on the eastern wall of Jerusalem's Old City.

  • Chapelle de Sainte-Hélène dans la basilique du St Sépulcre

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.0 × 8.5 in (27.9 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Bonfils studio capturing the atmospheric, lamp-lit interior of the Chapel of Saint Helena within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

  • Portes du Saint Sépulcre (Doors of the Holy Sepulchre)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1875

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.58 × 11.02 in (21.8 × 28.0 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    This evocative late-19th-century albumen photograph by renowned studio photographer Félix Bonfils documents the historic Romanesque double-arched entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, featuring Orthodox clergy, pilgrims, and local merchants in the parvis.

  • 286. Tombeau d'Elie à Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 9.95 × 8.7 in (25.3 × 22.1 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils depicting the Dome of Elijah (Kubbat al-Khidr) on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, rendered with rich sepia tones and sharp architectural detail.

  • 886. Ancien tombeau creusé dans le rocher à Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.3 × 8.1 in (26.2 × 20.6 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Maison Bonfils capturing an ancient rock-cut tomb in Jerusalem, demonstrating the meticulous detail and rich sepia tones typical of early Near Eastern archaeological photography.

  • No. 81. Chaire d'Omar ou mamber sur la plate-forme du Temple. Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.1 × 8.5 in (25.7 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing the majestic arches (Mawazin) and the exquisite Summer Pulpit (Minbar of Burhan al-Din) on the Temple Mount platform in Jerusalem.

  • Cathédrale grecque dans la basilique du Saint-Sépulcre (Greek Cathedral in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.65 × 8.51 in (27.1 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An exceptional late 19th-century albumen photograph by renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils, capturing the ornate Katholikon (Greek Cathedral) inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, detailing its magnificent wood-carved iconostasis and grand chandeliers.

  • The Stone of Anointing, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem (La Pierre de l'Onction)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Attributed)

    Date: ca. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.3 × 10.7 in (21.1 × 27.2 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph capturing the solemnity of the Stone of Anointing (Stone of Unction) in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, flanked by monumental ornate candlesticks and hung with traditional oil lamps beneath icons depicting the Entombment of Christ.

  • 851. Intérieur de l'Aedicule avec ornements

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (French, 1831–1885) / Maison Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 9.5 × 10.8 in (24.1 × 27.4 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Bonfils studio depicting Eastern Orthodox priests standing within the richly decorated interior of the Aedicule (the tomb of Christ) inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

  • 855 bis_ Grotte de Sainte-Hélène, intérieur

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.9 × 8.6 in (27.7 × 21.8 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing the subterranean interior of the Chapel of Saint Helena in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, highlighting the rustic stone cave-like walls and the classical-style altar.

  • 848 Escalier allant au St-Sépulcre. — Stairway leading to the Holy Sepulchre.

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1870–1880s

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.6 × 10.7 in (21.8 × 27.2 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A compelling late 19th-century photographic view by Félix Bonfils depicting diverse local figures, merchants, and stairs leading to the historic Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

  • 305 - Olivier du jardin de Gethsemané, Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1875 - 1885

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.55 × 10.8 in (21.7 × 27.4 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking, richly toned late 19th-century albumen photograph by the acclaimed French photographer Félix Bonfils, capturing a monk beside one of the ancient, gnarled olive trees in the historic Garden of Gethsemane.

  • Jerusalem: General View from the Mount of Olives (No. 299)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1870–1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.3 × 8.8 in (28.7 × 22.4 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing a classic panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, prominently featuring the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock.

  • Fortifications de Jérusalem, assises Salomoniennes (No. 869)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.6 × 10.7 in (21.8 × 27.2 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils depicting the monumental ancient stone blocks traditionally attributed to Solomon's Temple area in the fortifications of Jerusalem, featuring a local figure standing at the base to provide scale.

  • 1205_ Route de la station à Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1895

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.5 × 8.0 in (26.7 × 20.3 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late-19th-century albumen photograph by the Bonfils studio depicting the bustling road leading from the railway station toward the old city walls of Jerusalem, featuring travelers, carriages, and livestock set against the historic city fortifications.

  • 245 bis. Mur des Juifs, vue d'ensemble

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.75 × 7.85 in (27.3 × 19.9 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils, capturing Jewish worshippers gathered at the base of the majestic Western Wall (Wailing Wall) in Jerusalem.

  • Jaffa. Vue prise des jardins (Palestine) [No. 239]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.38 × 8.29 in (26.4 × 21.1 cm)

    Location: Jaffa, Tel Aviv District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Maison Bonfils, capturing the ancient port city of Jaffa rising in the background beyond its famous, sprawling citrus groves.

  • Gethsemané, vue générale - The garden of Gethsemane, general view (No. 303)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1875

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.25 × 8.75 in (28.6 × 22.2 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils depicting the manicured plots, iconic ancient olive trees, and picket fences of the Garden of Gethsemane, with the Eastern wall of Jerusalem's Old City rising on the hill in the distance.

  • 753 Campement de Bédouins à Jéricho - Palestine

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885) / Maison Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.8 × 8.2 in (27.4 × 20.8 cm)

    Location: Jericho, West Bank, Palestine

    This late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils captures an intimate scene of a Bedouin encampment near Jericho, showing family members in traditional costume gathered around a low tent.

  • Fontaine des Apôtres sur la route de Jéricho (No. 904)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 9.0 × 8.0 in (22.9 × 20.3 cm)

    Location: Al-Eizariya, West Bank, Palestine

    A compelling late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Bonfils studio depicting the historic Apostles' Fountain (Ein el-Hod) on the ancient route from Jerusalem to Jericho, featuring local travelers and pack animals resting under the stone arch.

  • Camels and Figures at a Well, Palestine

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.3 × 9.4 in (28.7 × 23.9 cm)

    Location: Palestine

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils, capturing a picturesque scene of travelers and resting camels at a traditional stone well in the countryside of Palestine.

  • 911. Mer morte et montagnes de Judée, Palestine (Dead Sea and Mountains of Judea, Palestine)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.5 × 8.5 in (29.2 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Dead Sea, Middle East

    An evocative late-19th-century albumen photograph by the prominent French photographer Félix Bonfils, depicting a rider and companion on the desolate, driftwood-covered shore of the Dead Sea with the Judean mountains rising in the hazy background.

  • Femme arabe syrienne

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.5 × 11.0 in (21.6 × 27.9 cm)

    Location: Syria

    A captivating late 19th-century portrait by pioneering French photographer Félix Bonfils, documenting a Syrian Arab woman wearing a delicate, semi-translucent facial veil.

  • 1102. Halte de chameliers dans le desert

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.0 × 8.5 in (27.9 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Syrian Desert

    This striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Maison Bonfils studio depicts a group of Bedouin camel drivers resting with their dromedaries in the desert, serving as a classic example of Near Eastern Orientalist photography.

  • 1064. Forteresse de Banias vue générale des ruines

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1870-1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 9.65 × 9.8 in (24.5 × 24.9 cm)

    Location: Banias, Golan Heights, Syria

    This atmospheric late-19th-century albumen photograph by the acclaimed Maison Bonfils studio captures a sweeping, detailed view of the medieval ruins of Nimrod Fortress (traditionally associated with nearby Banias) dramatically positioned along the mountain ridges of the Golan Heights.

  • Ruines du Temple de Pan a Banias (Ruins of the Temple of Pan at Banias)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1870–1880s

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.8 × 9.2 in (30.0 × 23.4 cm)

    Location: Banias, Golan Heights, Syria

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils, capturing the ancient rock-cut niches of the Sanctuary of Pan at Banias with two local figures seated near the cave's entrance.

  • 467. Mur cyclopéen à Balbek (Syrie) [Cyclopean Wall at Baalbek, Syria]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885) / Maison Bonfils

    Date: c. 1875

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.0 × 8.5 in (27.9 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Baalbek, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, Lebanon

    A striking, high-contrast late 19th-century albumen photograph capturing the monumental megalithic blocks of the ancient Roman retaining wall at the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek.

  • Damas. Intérieur de maison - Consul anglais (Syrie)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.2 × 10.0 in (20.8 × 25.4 cm)

    Location: Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria

    An exquisite late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils depicting the reception hall of the British Consul's residence in Damascus, showcasing elaborate Islamic interior architecture, carved wooden paneling, and traditional textiles.

  • 431. Damas. Interieur de la maison juive Stambouli

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1870s–1880s

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.7 × 10.8 in (22.1 × 27.4 cm)

    Location: Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing the highly ornate interior of the Jewish Stambouli House (Beit Stambouli) in Damascus, showing intricate mosaic tiling, painted plasterwork, and local figures.

  • Musulmans en prière dans la grande mosquée à Damas

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 9.4 × 10.5 in (23.9 × 26.7 cm)

    Location: Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria

    A compelling staged studio albumen photograph by Maison Bonfils depicting two Muslim men performing prayer (*Salah*) on a patterned rug against a painted backdrop of the interior arcade of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

  • Damas. Salon de la maison Stambouli

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.8 × 6.8 in (22.4 × 17.3 cm)

    Location: Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria

    A stunning late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Maison Bonfils depicting the remarkably intricate, carved stucco and woodwork of the reception room (qa'a) in the historic Stambouli House in Damascus, Syria.

  • Damas. Porte de bronze de la grande mosquée

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.6 × 10.1 in (26.9 × 25.7 cm)

    Location: Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the Bonfils studio capturing the intricate bronze door and monumental stone portal of the Great Mosque of Damascus.

  • 330 bis. Vue générale de Bethléhem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.2 × 8.5 in (25.9 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine

    A compelling late 19th-century albumen photograph by the prominent Bonfils studio, capturing a sweeping panoramic view of Bethlehem across a terraced hillside landscape dotted with olive trees.

  • 1000. Djerach. Place semi-circulaire ou Péribolos

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1875-1885

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 10.4 × 7.1 in (26.4 × 18.0 cm)

    Location: Jerash, Jerash Governorate, Jordan

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Bonfils studio capturing the ruins of the ancient Roman Oval Plaza (Peribolos) in Gerasa (modern Jerash, Jordan).

  • Djerasch. Temple du Soleil (No. 1010)

    Cartographer / Artist: Felix Bonfils (Studio)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 12.0 × 9.5 in (30.5 × 24.1 cm)

    Location: Jerash, Jerash Governorate, Jordan

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Bonfils studio capturing the monumental Corinthian columns of the ancient Temple of Artemis (traditionally labeled as the Temple of the Sun) in Jerash, Jordan, featuring a lone local figure standing atop the ruins to convey scale.

  • 1003. Djerach. Vue générale des monuments prise du nord.

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.3 × 8.4 in (28.7 × 21.3 cm)

    Location: Jerash, Jerash Governorate, Jordan

    An exquisite late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils depicting a sweeping panoramic view of the ancient Roman ruins of Jerash from the north, highlighting the monumental colonnaded streets and terraced stone structures.

  • 992. Vue générale de Djérach

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Bonfils Studio)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.0 × 8.5 in (27.9 × 21.6 cm)

    Location: Jerash, Jerash Governorate, Jordan

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by the renowned Bonfils studio, capturing a sweeping panoramic view of the ancient Greco-Roman ruins of Jerash (Gerasa) in modern-day Jordan.

  • 480_ Vue générale de Beyrouth et du Liban (No. 1)

    Cartographer / Artist: Maison Bonfils (Félix Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1875

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.7 × 11.8 in (29.7 × 30.0 cm)

    Location: Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon

    A striking late 19th-century panoramic albumen photograph by the celebrated French photographer Félix Bonfils, capturing the sprawling cityscape of Beirut with the snow-dusted peaks of Mount Lebanon rising in the background.

  • Vue générale de Damas (prise de Salihié) [No. 409]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.1 × 7.5 in (28.2 × 19.1 cm)

    Location: Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils depicting a panoramic view of Damascus from the heights of Salahiyeh (Mount Qasioun), featuring a sprawling historic cemetery in the foreground and the ancient city expanding into the horizon.

  • Damas - Lieu où St Paul s'est converti près de Damas [Damascus - Place where St. Paul was converted near Damascus]

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.7 × 5.0 in (29.7 × 12.7 cm)

    Location: Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing local figures in traditional white cloaks gathered at the biblical site outside Damascus associated with the Conversion of Saint Paul.

  • 846 - Forteresse près de la porte de Jaffa à Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1870s-1880s

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 12.9 × 10.1 in (32.8 × 25.7 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    This evocative late 19th-century albumen photograph by renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils captures the imposing fortifications of the Citadel (Tower of David) near the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, featuring market stalls, pack animals, and local figures in the foreground.

  • N. 85. Vue générale de l'emplacement du temple de Salomon

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1870-1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 12.4 × 10.8 in (31.5 × 27.4 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late 19th-century albumen photograph by famed French photographer Félix Bonfils, capturing an expansive view of the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem with the iconic Dome of the Rock.

  • Chaire d'Omar ou membar sur la plate-forme du Temple, Jerusalem (No. 81)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 13.7 × 10.7 in (34.8 × 27.2 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An elegant late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing the majestic stone arcades (Mawazin) and the Summer Pulpit (Minbar of Burhan al-Din) on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

  • Tour de David à Jérusalem (Tower of David, Jerusalem)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: ca. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 13.8 × 11.8 in (35.1 × 30.0 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    This evocative 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils documents the historic Tower of David (the Citadel) in Jerusalem, showcasing the monumental medieval and ancient stonework of the fortress.

  • Route de Bethléem, prise de la porte de Jaffa, Jérusalem (No. 888)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 13.8 × 10.8 in (35.1 × 27.4 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A compelling late 19th-century albumen photograph capturing the bustling Bethlehem Road outside the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, featuring local merchants, pack animals, and traditional pottery.

  • Arc de l'Ecce Homo, Jérusalem

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.0 × 13.8 in (27.9 × 35.1 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    This atmospheric albumen photograph by Felix Bonfils captures the iconic Ecce Homo Arch along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, beautifully showcasing the layered Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman architectural heritage of the Old City.

  • Reservoir d'Ezechias, Jerusalem (No. 277)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 13.4 × 10.1 in (34.0 × 25.7 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    A striking late-19th-century large-format albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing the calm, reflective waters of Hezekiah's Pool in the Old City of Jerusalem, with surrounding historic buildings and domes mirrored in the water.

  • Mont des Oliviers

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 12.4 × 9.9 in (31.5 × 25.1 cm)

    Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

    An exceptional late 19th-century albumen photograph by renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils, capturing a historic panoramic view of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, including early structures, terraces, and the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene.

  • Emplacement du village de Bethphagé, Palestine (No. 880)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Albumen print mounted on board

    Dimensions: 11.7 × 8.7 inches

    Location: Bethphage, East Jerusalem / West Bank

    This late nineteenth-century albumen photograph by prominent French studio photographer Félix Bonfils captures the arid, rocky landscape of Bethphage on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem. In Christian biblical tradition, Bethphage is renowned as the staging point from which Jesus mounted a donkey for his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The high-angle composition highlights the austere limestone terrain crisscrossed by low dry-stone boundary walls and tracks. Within a walled compound stand simple stone structures representing the monastic sanctuary and village dwellings. Several local inhabitants in traditional attire, accompanied by working donkeys, populate the foreground path and enclosure, providing scale against the undulating hills of Judea.

  • Palestine: Ruines de l'église d'Emmaüs près de Jérusalem (No. 839)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885) / Maison Bonfils

    Date: c. 1875–1885

    Medium: Albumen photograph mounted on card

    Dimensions: 9.5 × 7.5 inches

    Location: Emmaus (Al-Qubayba / Nicopolis region), Palestine / West Bank

    This late nineteenth-century albumen photograph by renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils captures the atmospheric ruins of the Crusader-era Church of Emmaus, located in the hills near Jerusalem. The photograph features the substantial ashlar masonry and surviving arched portal of the medieval sanctuary, with a solitary monastic figure standing beside the vaulted doorway to provide scale against the ancient stone ruins. In the background, the rolling, arid terrain of the Judean hill country unfolds toward a distant Palestinian village characterized by flat-roofed stone dwellings. Bonfils' studio in Beirut produced a celebrated commercial corpus of Middle Eastern views that documented biblical topography and architectural archaeology for European pilgrims, scholars, and grand tourists during the late Ottoman period.

  • Panoramic View of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1875–1885

    Medium: Albumen silver print on card mount

    Dimensions: 11.5 × 8.7 inches

    Location: Jerusalem, Ottoman Empire

    This late nineteenth-century albumen photograph by French photographer Félix Bonfils captures a sweeping elevated panorama of Jerusalem from the slopes of the Mount of Olives. In the foreground, aged olive trees and stone terracing overlook the rugged Kidron Valley, leading the viewer's eye across the arid topography toward the imposing Ottoman and ancient stone walls surrounding the Old City. The southern portion of the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount), including the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and adjacent institutional buildings, dominates the midground composition. Félix Bonfils, who established a renowned commercial photographic studio in Beirut in 1867, systematically documented the architecture, monuments, and landscapes of the Levant, Egypt, and Syria. His work catered to widespread European and American fascination with biblical geography and the Grand Tour itinerary. The photograph is signed 'Bonfils' in the negative in the lower-left corner alongside studio inventory numbering, exemplifying the studio's sharp detail and technical mastery in large-format outdoor view photography.

  • General View of the Ruins of Baalbek and Surrounding Village

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (Maison Bonfils)

    Date: c. 1875

    Medium: Albumen print mounted on card

    Dimensions: 10.1 × 8.2 inches

    Location: Baalbek, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon

    An evocative 19th-century panoramic landscape photograph capturing the monumental Roman acropolis at Baalbek (ancient Heliopolis) in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon. Produced by the renowned French studio Maison Bonfils, the composition highlights the dramatic silhouette of the remaining towering columns of the Temple of Jupiter and the colossal enclosure walls rising above verdant groves of trees. In the foreground, the photograph documents the vernacular architecture of the contemporary late Ottoman-era village, featuring low stone houses with flat clay roofs, cultivated enclosures, and dry-stone boundary walls amidst rocky terrain. Signed and numbered in the negative 'Bonfils 167' at the bottom center, this plate serves as an invaluable visual record of the site prior to the major early 20th-century German and French archaeological restorations.

  • 470. Bédouines prenant leur repas devant leur tente

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 11.8 × 9.25 in (30.0 × 23.5 cm)

    Location: Middle East

    This captivating ethnographic photograph by renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils offers an intimate glimpse into the daily life of Bedouin women and children eating together in front of their distinctive woven tent.

  • 750. Bergers de Judée (Shepherds of Judea)

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885) or the Bonfils Studio

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.5 × 10.5 in (21.6 × 26.7 cm)

    Location: Judean Wilderness, Israel

    A well-preserved late 19th-century albumen photograph by Félix Bonfils capturing Judean shepherds with their flock in a rocky, arid landscape of the Judean wilderness.

  • Bédouines portant leurs enfants

    Cartographer / Artist: Félix Bonfils (1831–1885)

    Date: c. 1880

    Medium: Photograph

    Dimensions: 8.8 × 11.0 in (22.4 × 27.9 cm)

    Location: Middle East

    An exceptional ethnographic albumen portrait by the renowned French photographer Félix Bonfils, depicting two Bedouin women in traditional attire carrying young children on their shoulders against a studio backdrop.