File:"A Summer Trip," volume 1 - DPLA - 1d42a547fd82666992d1a2bc6a51bd4f.jpg

Johnson compiled seven volumes of photographs to illustrate a few of his earliest travels to Europe. This album represents volume 1 of the set presumed to be the earliest, entitled "A Summer Trip." Johnson included an inscription in each of the three volumes that reveals his motive in assembling the picture books, which in turn adds an endearing charm to his efforts. The inscription, clearly in Johnson's hand, is addressed to his then bride of three years, and reads: "Ida P. Johnson/from her husband/in remembrance of a most happy summer." He dates his gift "Xmas 1878." Most of the images are scenic views of European mountains, lakes and villages or cityscapes of cathedrals, palaces, museums, and opera houses, as well as architectural details of each. Under each image is a brief caption written by hand in a style that resembles Johnson's. Less in number, yet notable, are the photographic reproductions of paintings included in these pictorial travelogues. Although Johnson did not identify the museums or estates housing the objects, that information can be inferred by the placement of the images following those of a particular city. Johnson's captions also document attributions and titles that in several cases have been revised since the last quarter of the nineteenth century.Based on the arrangement of the photographs, Johnson and his wife began their 1878 trip in Le Havre, France. From there, they traveled to Paris, Versailles, various villages and cities in Switzerland; then on to northern Italy, Austria and Germany; and at some point toward the end of the trip, Brussels (Belgium). Along the way, the Johnsons viewed art collections from the Louvre in Paris, Munich's Alte Pinakothek, the Wiertz Gallery in Brussels and the Old Masters' Picture Gallery in Dresden (Gemäldegalerie alte Meister; now part of the Dresden State Art Collections). Among the paintings Johnson included from Dresden was "Venus with Musician." At that time it was attributed to Titian. It has been lost since 1939. Images from the Palace of Versailles include Marie Antoinette's bed and Vincenzo Vela's marble depiction of "The Last Days of Napoleon," which is now housed at the Musée National du Château de Malmaison.