PBA Galleries

Vintage gelatin silver print copy of Eadweard Muybridge's 1877 original. 11 panels, each approximately 20.5x21.5 cm (8x8¼"); overall 20.5x223 cm (8x87¾"), panels joined on the rear with strips of brown paper, the whole folded into a modern gold cloth folder.

Copy photograph made by Martin Behrman around 1900 of Muybridge's breathtaking 360 degree panorama of San Francisco from California Street hill. Behrman made a number of copy photographs of historic San Francisco images around this time, preserving much history that would otherwise have been lost. The original panorama was taken, it is believed by scholars, between May 23 and June 23 (due to examination of the shadows), and probably on Monday (people are doing their wash). Probably Muybridge's most famous single work, providing not only one of the best views of the bustling metropolis, but also a wealth of entertainment upon close examination. This picture tells many stories. Visible in striking detail are the mansions of the rich and the dwellings of the poor, the churches, hotels, banks, and other features. Muybridge also produced a mammoth plate panorama of San Francisco, which is excessively rare, only 5 or 6 copies known to exist. The original of the present, smaller version was issued folding into cloth covers. An example of this copy photograph version resides in the San Francisco History Center Panorama Collection, San Francisco Public Library.