Fotoreproductie van een tekening van Marie Amélie van Bourbon-Sicilië door Paul Delaroche before 1858

Here, we see a photographic reproduction by Robert Jefferson Bingham of a drawing by Paul Delaroche, presented within an open book format. The image, a modest rectangle on the right-hand page, displays a group portrait rendered in delicate monochrome tones. The composition employs a classical arrangement, with figures posed to suggest narrative and hierarchy. Delaroche's original drawing, now mediated through Bingham's photographic lens, invites us to consider how reproduction affects our perception of art and history. Notice how Bingham’s choice to photograph the drawing within the context of the book changes its reception. The book's physical presence – its aged pages, binding, and the marks of time – frame Delaroche's drawing. This juxtaposition encourages us to reflect on the layers of mediation and materiality that shape our understanding of both the artwork and the historical context it represents. The drawing functions not only as a historical record but also as an object embedded in a network of cultural and technological practices.