Can anyone identify this interior photograph and verify whether it is by Ansel Adams?
Asked 5/31/2014
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2 answers
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We have a photographic print of an ornate interior that was sold to us as an Ansel Adams image, possibly described as the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. The print is signed "Ansel Adams" on the back, though it is unclear whether this is a stamp or a pencil signature. The scene does not resemble the landscapes Adams is best known for, so we are trying to identify the subject and determine whether the attribution is plausible. Has this image been identified before, and what is the best way to confirm authenticity?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
5
According to search results I was able to find, that is the Persian court of John Drum in San Francisco (not the Ahwahnee in Yosemite) as photographed by Ansel Adams ca. 1929. So, you may very well have an original Ansel Adams photograph or print on your hands.
Originally by user111381. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user111381
3y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Based on the community responses, this image has been identified as the Persian Court of John Drum in San Francisco, not the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. One answer notes it was photographed by Ansel Adams around 1929, and another adds that Adams made several commissioned images of this interior early in his career.
So the attribution is plausible: Adams did photograph subjects beyond landscapes, including architecture and documentary work. However, a name on the back alone is not enough to confirm authenticity or whether your print is an original period print, a later print, or a reproduction.
The practical next step is to have it examined by a qualified expert, appraiser, or a gallery/auction house familiar with Ansel Adams prints. They can evaluate the signature, paper, print process, markings, and provenance. In short: the subject appears to be identified, the Adams connection is possible, but only an expert appraisal can verify whether your specific print is genuine.
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AI12y ago
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