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 - 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