Clifford in Spain

Charles Clifford (1819-1863) was one of the great masters of 19th-century photography, known for his technical and stylistic innovations. He arrived in Spain from Great Britain in the mid-19th century and, after a brief period dedicated to hot-air balloons, found an audience receptive to his art in Madrid. Queen Isabella II was his main client, commissioning commemorative albums of her official trips to various regions of Spain, which allowed him to photograph monuments, public works like the Isabel II canal, and impressive landscapes. In addition to his documentary work, he was interested in capturing picturesque characters along his way. Lee Fontanella, an expert on Clifford's work, focuses on the royal commissions and his work as a portraitist of monuments. The book includes an exhaustive inventory of over seven hundred photographs taken in Spain, making it a valuable tool for the country's historical memory.