Crystoleum, "Portrait of a Zouave" painted photograph fixed under glass c 1890

Crystoleum, Large full-length portrait of a Zouave.

Size: 19 x 25.5cm

In its original frame: 36 x 44 cm

Period frame in wood and gilded stucco.

A crystal print is a hand-painted photograph fixed under glass. An albumen print is glued onto a concave piece of glass, the paper backing is then rubbed away, and the remaining image is hand-colored with oil paints. This extremely expensive process was used for a short period from 1880 to 1910.