Achille ILLER (c. 1815- ?) Lot n° 48

The San Donato Palace, "Entrance Gate (view from the road)", Florence, June 1847 Half plate daguerreotype in its original mount, on the back handwritten caption and label of the auction, March 15, 1880 bearing the number 2813: "daguerreotypes (Views of San Donato)" 10,5 x 13,5 cm - 17 x 21,2 cm (under glass) The daguerreotype proposed here shows a portico of the luxurious Florentine Villa of San Donato. Nineteenth century engravings depict the Villa, or palace, as an imposing structure flanked by a portico at each end, framing a huge park-like courtyard. The Villa was designed by Giovan Battista Silvestri, architect of the famous Uffizi Palace, for the Russian Count Nicholas Demidoff (1773-1828). Upon the Count's death, ownership of the palace and its grounds passed to his son, Anatole Demidoff. All the furniture and works of art from this Villa were offered at auction. Among the lots, n° 2813 was composed of 18 daguerreotypes representing the San Donato Palace. Our daguerreotype was among them.