Photographs

Photographs

Adriano Colasanti, scholar and collector, successfully leads the Department that handles photography auctions, offering a history of photography from its origins to the final decades of the 20th century. In the evaluation and selection of collectible photographs, particular attention is given to images that have not yet been serially produced, executed with the pioneering techniques of photographic reproduction, such as daguerreotypes and ambrotypes.

Starting with the category of rare, exceptional, and historically significant photographs, either for their subject matter or technique, the Department's offerings proceed with an analysis of the popularization of photographic language in the 1990s and extend to the contemporary era, a period marked by the revolutionary shift to contemporary digital photography. However, digital photography remains outside the scope of the Photography Department, which focuses exclusively on historical works with the goal of preserving the authenticity and heritage of traditional photography.

The photography auctions cater to an expert audience, collectors, and enthusiasts of historical photos, as well as those looking to invest in photography. In addition to being works of exceptional artistic and historical quality, the photographs often proposed in auction by the Department have played a decisive role in the development of this art and document the evolution of various photographic techniques over the years.

Through carefully selected photographs by experts, the history of photography is not only retraced through the lots included in the dedicated auction catalogs, but it also offers enthusiasts the opportunity to enrich their photographic collections with pieces of artistic, economic, and historical value. Our experts are available for those wishing to sell photographs at auction, offering free, no-obligation valuations. A preliminary valuation can be requested easily online, by filling up the valuation form.

Graduating in architecture with a thesis on the aesthetics and technique of architectural photography in the pioneering era, Adriano Colasanti has been involved in photography since his adolescence, not only as a collector and scholar but also as an original photographer. Since 2009, he has engaged in practical experiments in ambrotype and daguerreotype under the guidance of Professor J.C. Bachelot from Rennes. His architectural photography reports in 6x6 format have received recognition in industry competitions. Alongside his studies and experiments in photography, he conducts precision mechanics work focused on the design and production of steel bicycle frames.
Staff
Adriano Colasanti

Adriano Colasanti

Department head