BECK, Henri
Henri Beck was the creator of some of the earliest photographs of Athenian monuments, shortly after the mid-19th century. The excavation and restoration of several sites had begun, and in some cases, important progress had already been made. The photographs of Beck, together with the earlier ones of J. Robertson (1854) and those of W. J. Stilman (1870), constitute an invaluable source on the history of Athenian monuments and ruins.
Calotypy, the early photographic technique used by Beck, was quite adequate for archaeological pictures but had some shortcomings with regard to capturing the surroundings. As exposure time spanned several hours, shots could not include people in movement; consequently, the city looked empty and deserted. In some rare cases Beck hired people to pose before the monuments; on the whole however, photographers of that period were mainly interested in monuments and not in human figures.
Written by Ioli Vingopoulou
BECK, Henri - Aegina
BECK, Henri - Rest Images
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Temple of Hephaestus at Theseion quarter. In the background, on the right, Lycabettus Hill.
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The temple of Hephaestus at Athens from the northwest. In the background, the Acropolis.
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Temple of Olympian Zeus at Athens. In the background, the Acropolis.
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Temple of Olympian Zeus at Athens. In the background, the Acropolis.
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Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos (Tower of the Winds), Athens.
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The cathedral church of Athens (Metropolis) seen from the Acropolis.
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The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Acropolis and Lycabettus hill, seen from Philopappos hill.
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Panoramic view of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus from the Acropolis of Athens.
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The Royal Palace (today Parliament of Greece). In the background, Lycabettus hill.
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Triton statue from the Odeon of Agrippas at the Roman Agora of Athens.
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Panoramic view of the theatre of Dionysus on the southern slope of the Acropolis of Athens.
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Reliefs from the theatre of Dionysus on the southern slope of the Acropolis of Athens.
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Remains of the theatre of Dionysus on the southern slope of the Acropolis of Athens.
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Remains of the theatre of Dionysus on the southern slope of the Acropolis of Athens.
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Remains of the theatre of Dionysus on the southern slope of the Acropolis of Athens.
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