Santos Fernández Santos (1860-1935), riojan heritage photographer

Abstract

The photographic files are fundamental documents to the research of a society and their geographical, economic and cultural setting. Behind of these photographies we find a type of photographer that, occasionally, works in a professional way and, other times, as amateur. Santos Fernández Santos, a man who was born in Valladolid and worked as a public notary in San Millán de la Cogolla between 1887 and 1907, belongs to the second group. He juggled his job with his favourite fondness, photography. This project shows the enthusiast’s picture collection during his stay in La Rioja, hitherto unknown, focused in the historical and artistic heritage. Additionally, it stresses the importance of this type of photographic files to the evolution and work of art preservation research.