247. Djèbel Selsèlèh. Temple. chap.[iteau]

This is an Egyptian capital from a much earlier era, probably photographed outside, but the artist uses a similar approach. The light picks out the unfurling petals of the capital's design but also reveals a little of the structure above, cutting across the image in a startling diagonal, while everything else remains obscured.

Girault de Prangey made approximately four small format daguerreotypes from this site. Another study from this group was sold at auction in 2003 (lot 79) and a third is now in the collection of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.