These two plates reproduce works from the Petit Palais belonging
to the Dutuit collection. The images were obtained using the
photochromy process. In the recent catalogue Photochromie.
Voyage en couleur, 1876-1914 [Photochromy. A Journey in Colour,
1876-1914], Sabine Arqué describes this complex process: “ […]
photochromes are mass-produced colorized lithographic proofs
obtained from a black and white photographic negative […]. Léon
Vidal filed a patent for the invention of the photochromy
technique in 1872. Photochromies were successful, especially for
reproductions of works of art. The effect is quite
characteristic: the way in which the image is printed gives the
impression of relief to the photograph, as well as bright
colours which appealed to enthusiasts. In 1872, Léon Vidal
embarked on the huge project of using photochromy to reproduce
exhaustively the major works of art in French collections. The
luxurious book was called Trésor artistique de la France, but
never progressed beyond volume II. Auguste D