Paul Gaudin (Paris, 1858-1921, Versailles) Saudi... Lot 309

Paul Gaudin (Paris, 1858-1921, Versailles) Saudi Arabia: Al-'Ula and Hegra/Madâin Sâlih, 1907 The very first photographs of Al-'Ula and among the earliest of the archaeological site of Hegra. A 9x12 cm box containing eight plates of mediocre quality, probably due to the difficulties of taking pictures in the field, including : - five plates of Dadanite inscriptions replaced in the houses of Al-'Ula. - three plates of a Nabataean tomb in Hegra/Madâin Sâlih (façade and two interior views). Attached is a map drawn on tracing by Paul Gaudin of the "Hamidié Railway of the Hijaz" at 1:3,000,000 showing the situation of progress as the line passed Hédié and almost reached Medina. 66 x 41 cm (Missing, poor condition and restorations to the scotch). Provenance: collection of Paul Gaudin (1858-1921), archaeologist, engineer and major donor to the Louvre Museum; by family descent. A 1907 set of photographic glass plates by Paul Gaudin representing Al-'Ula and the archaeological digs of Hegra. Sold with a map of the Hamidié railroad drawn by Paul Gaudin on tracing paper. Bibliography: - "Alula, merveille d'Arabie", exhibition catalog at the Institut du Monde Arabe, published by Gallimard, 2019. - A. Jaussen and R. Savignac, "Mission archéologique en Arabie, II", Paris, Geuthner 1914, Reissue Cairo, Ifao, 1997. The pictures were taken by Paul Gaudin probably on the occasion of the inauguration of the Al-'Ula station, on September 1, 1907 or shortly before, during the installation of the Hedjaz railway line. The views of Al-'Ula A predate those of Fathers Jaussen and Savignac of the Ecole Biblique de Jérusalem, who did not reach this city until their second archaeological mission to Arabia, in February 1909, when Paul Gaudin had left his duties there. The inhabitants of the region were opposed to the establishment of the railroad and showed a rather strong hostility towards the Ottomans and the Westerners. This probably explains why Paul Gaudin did not have enough time to take high quality photographs.