Луксор (Фивы), Общий вид на руины

Египет на долгое время поразил воображение всех европейских культур. Египтомания 19 века возникла в результате египетской кампании Наполеона (1798–1801) и в результате научного изучения древних египетских останков и культуры, вдохновленных этой кампанией. Интерес Запада к древнеегипетской истории привел к обширным археологическим экспедициям и бесчисленным коллекциям этих великолепных древностей по всему миру.

Felix Teynard began his career as a painter, but soon became interested in photography. He opened a photographic studio in Grenoble in 1843 and quickly gained a reputation for his work. In 1851, he was commissioned by the French government to document the archaeological sites of Egypt. Teynard spent a year in Egypt and took over 2000 photographs of the country's monuments and landscapes. Teynard's photographs of Egypt were highly praised for their technical excellence and artistic beauty. His images captured the grandeur and mystery of ancient Egypt and helped popularise the country as a tourist destination. Teynard's work was exhibited at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1855, where it won a gold medal. On his return from Egypt, Teynard continued to work as a photographer in Grenoble. He specialised in portraiture and was known for his ability to capture the personality of his subjects. Teynard died in 1892, but his legacy as a pioneer of photography lives on. His photographs of Egypt are still admired today for their beauty and historical significance.