Tree study, Algeria, 1855-56

Born in Paris in 1832, John Beasley Greene was introduced to photography through his work as an archaeologist. His first voyage to the middle East was in 1853-54 when he was authorised to make excavations in Upper Egypt. The following year he made a second trip, sponsored by Ferdinand de Lesseps. When he returned to Paris he offered a number of his photographs to the Société franaise de photographie, of which he was a founding member. Later that year he and archaeologist Adrien Berburgger travelled to Algeria to carry out further studies on Egyptian civilisation. He died in 1856, probably in Algeria.