Lot Essay
In June 1866, M. Gsell a French photographer based in Saigon, accompanied the naval captain Doudart de Lagrée on a scientifc mission along the Mekong River which began with an archaeological exploration of Angkor Wat. It was here that Gsell made his documentary photographs of the 12th century temple. A year later Admiral Rigault de Genouilly, later the Minister of the Navy, presented an album titled Cochinchine et Cambodge to Empress Eugénie, including fifteen views of the ruins of Angkor by M. Gsell.