The People of Gibraltar
1870 - Jean Laurent - Fotógrafo de Su Majestad la Reina - Part 1


Juan Laurent is one of better known figures in the history of Spanish photography.  In his late twenties he moved from his native France to Madrid, where he lived and worked for forty-three years. In 1856 he rented premises in Madrid at "Carrera de San Jerónimo," where he established his studio. His success eventually allowed him to use the title "Photographer of her Majesty the Queen" - Isabel II of Spain, from 1861 until she was deposed in 1868.


In  the early 1860s Laurent launched a huge photographic survey of Spanish and Portuguese  architecture in which he used hired and trained photographers to travel all over the Iberian Peninsula to  help with this undertaking. It was perhaps his collaboration on another project with the British photographer Charles Clifford (see LINK) that induced him to send one of his staff to photograph the Rock of Gibraltar. The copies below are just a few examples of those produced at the time.


The Rock from somewhere near Algeciras


The Rock from an unknown location probably near Algeciras


The Rock from Algeciras with La Isla Verde in the middle distance


The Rock from somewhere near Algeciras - the fruit of the cacti were known locally as higo chumbos


The Rock from Campamento 


The Rock from Campamento - as above but with goats


The Rock from Campamento 


The Rock from Campamento - very similar to the previous photo


Postcard of the above photograph


The Rock from Campamento 


Rock from western beach in La Línea - one of the few in which he included people - Possibly taken by local photographer John Porral


Spanish frontier post on the north side of the Neutral Ground


Similar photograph apparently not used


View of the harbour – the Detached Mole with war ships and the South Mole (see LINK) on the right


The Commercial Wharf


Rosia Bay  (See LINK


Rosia Bay Postcard - from photograph shown above 


View of the town looking north


San Roque with Gibraltar in the distance 


View of the Rock from the Rio de la Miel in Algeciras


Another view of the Rock from the Rio de la Miel in Algeciras


View of the Bay - Despite the caption, Gibraltar lies well to the right and is not visible in this photograph

See also:

1870 - Jean Laurent - Fotógrafo de Su Majestad la Reina - Part 2