Bricks & Light: The Palace Hotel

Carleton E. Watkins (U.S., 1829-1916): The Palace Hotel, San Francisco. Albumen print circa 1870, 3-1/4″ x 6″ mounted on a cabinet card advertising Watkins’ photographs. [Advertising copy transcribed below]

You are most cordially invited, together with your friends, to visit Watkins’ Yosemite Art Gallery--Portrait and Landscape–26 Montgomery St., less than one block from the Palace, Grand and Occidental Hotels, and directly opposite the entrance to Lick House, (four doors from Sutter St.) Our Photographic Views, embracing the different sizes include, all the places of interest on the Pacific Coast.

[EXTRACT FROM THE LONDON ART JOURNAL.]

But in all that has depended on human art, he has been most successful–especially in the selection of pictorial points of view, as well as in the delicate manipulation which is necessary to give free scope to the chemistry of light. Between the wonders of Nature and the skill of man, we have certainly before us, in these views of the Yosemite Valley, the finest photographs that have been seen in Europe. It is no small satisfaction to us to be able to bear this testimony to the work of an American artist. To the lover of Nature, in her most sublime aspects, as well as to the collectors of what is most rare and perfect in photography, we can recommend no higher treat than will be procured by the purchase of Mr. Watkins’ photographs of the Valley of the Grizzly Bear.

N.B.–Don’t Mistake the Number, 26 Montgomery Street.